The National Universities Commission (NUC) says the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree obtained by the Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District in the nation’s Upper Chamber, Senator Foster Ogola is fake and invalid as it was obtained from a non-accredited tertiary institution.

The Commission said The Gospel Missionary Foundation (GMF) Theological University from which the Senator obtained the degree was one of the illegal universities operating in the country which have been closed down.

While revealing that there was no official registered website for GMF, the NUC maintained that its investigations further revealed that there was also no research paper or thesis to the Senator’s name online although he acquired the degree in 2012.

A Monday Bulletin from the office of the Executive Secretary of NUC dated April 23, 2018 said the GMF University has not been licensed by the Federal Government and has therefore been shut down for violating the law.

“The National Universities Commission (NUC) wishes to announce to the general public, especially parents and prospective undergraduates that the underlisted “Degree Mills” have not been licensed by the Federal Government and have therefore, been closed down for violating the Education (National Minimum Standard etc) Act CAP E3 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004,” the Bulletin read.