Former Senator Calls for Truth Over Kila's Degrees

Former Senator Babafemi Ojudu has asked Anthony Kila to reveal his real academic background. He wants Kila to take back any false qualifications and repay any benefits he got through lies. This follows a PREMIUM TIMES investigation that questioned all the degrees Kila claimed to have.

Ojudu, who is also a journalist and politician, shared his thoughts in a Facebook post on Sunday. He said Kila should give proof to challenge the newspaper's findings or admit if they are true.

Ojudu stressed that accountability goes beyond just saying sorry. He wants Kila to point out the qualifications he cannot prove, fix biographies that repeat these claims, and help with any valid investigation.

“These are serious allegations that need clear, documented answers,” Ojudu wrote.

He also urged Kila’s family and friends to support him during this tough time. He said public scrutiny should not turn into cruelty, even as the questions about Kila’s education need answers.

“We can insist on the truth without turning public scrutiny into cruelty,” Ojudu said. He added that Kila’s life is still worth protecting despite the claims against him.

Ojudu mentioned he knew Kila from their time in a Yoruba association. He described Kila as smart, talented, and dignified.

He found it hard to believe Kila would need to fake academic qualifications, given his apparent intelligence.

“A person can be knowledgeable and useful to society without a university degree. There is no shame in that. But claiming degrees one hasn't earned is a betrayal of trust,” he wrote.

This is not Ojudu's first reaction to the issue. He previously challenged Kila to prove his professorship and academic background instead of threatening to sue the newspaper.

Kila has insisted that he is a professor. He stands by his title and the academic and professional qualifications he claims. But he has not provided proof of a credible institution that gave him this title in response to PREMIUM TIMES.

In its first investigation, published on October 3, PREMIUM TIMES found no evidence that any recognized academic institution awarded Kila the professorial title he has been using for years.

Kila said he got the title from the European Centre for Advanced and Professional Studies, but the newspaper could not confirm if this institution exists.

A follow-up investigation looked into Kila’s bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate, and other qualifications he claimed to have from universities in Italy and the UK.

The investigation found differences between his claims and what the universities reported. Some institutions said they never offered the programs Kila listed. For instance, the University of Essex stated they never offered the postgraduate diploma in media and communication that Kila claimed to have received in 1992.

When PREMIUM TIMES shared its findings with him, Kila said he was gathering his academic and professional documents and had started contacting the institutions involved.

“I am currently putting together my academic and professional documents, and they will be ready soon,” he told the newspaper.

This controversy has also led to actions from institutions. The Michael and Cecilia Ibru University in Delta State, where Kila was pro-chancellor from August 2025, has now suspended him while they investigate his professorial status. The university emphasized its commitment to academic integrity.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has also formed a team to look into the allegations and see if the university gained anything from Kila’s actions.

Ojudu stated that if investigations prove the claims true, Kila should reveal if the disputed qualifications helped him get jobs, payments, or other benefits. He said Kila must deal with these matters properly.

He urged Kila to accept any consequences from proven wrongdoing. Ojudu warned that public trust cannot be rebuilt with just speeches or apologies that do not admit the deception.

Despite this, Ojudu called for kindness. He asked Kila’s family and friends to stay close to him during the controversy. He said he had no knowledge of Kila wanting to harm himself but wanted those around him to check on his well-being and seek help if needed.

Ojudu believes Kila can still turn his life around by giving up any false claims, pursuing real qualifications, and contributing to society through genuine achievements.

“The first step towards that future is an honest account of the past,” Ojudu wrote.