Political economist urges restraint amid controversy over professor’s academic credentials
Political economist Prof. Pat Utomi has criticised claims suggesting that embattled academic Prof. Anthony Kila never attended school, describing such allegations as “spectacularly unfair” in the ongoing controversy over Kila’s academic credentials.
Utomi made his position known in a statement published on his verified Facebook page on Saturday, October 17, 2026, saying he knew Kila personally and regarded him as a good man.
The controversy followed an investigative report published by Premium Times in October, which alleged that Kila falsified his higher education qualifications, including his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as his professorial rank.
Utomi, however, clarified that he had no personal knowledge of Kila’s certificates or appointment letters and could not independently verify the details of his academic record.
“I have never had any reason to ask about his certificates or letters of appointment, so I cannot claim to have those details,” he said.
He nevertheless questioned the fairness of concluding that Kila had never attended school without supporting evidence.
“If he has never gone to school, then those who have must ask for a refund,” Utomi said.
He also drew parallels with the online backlash against Jason Arday, whom he described as the youngest Black professor appointed at the University of Cambridge, warning against the consequences of public condemnation driven by online campaigns.
Utomi said he first met Kila in Cambridge, England, in 2006, when he was preparing to contest Nigeria’s presidency.
He expressed concern about what he described as a culture in which individuals assume academic and non-academic titles, sometimes receiving celebrity status through media coverage, while others face public scrutiny over their credentials.
The economist also recalled facing allegations about his professional record and academic standing, saying he had previously offered ₦12 million to anyone who could provide evidence supporting a claim linking his tenure at Volkswagen Nigeria to the company’s decline.
He said no one had come forward to claim the reward in the 15 years since it was announced.
Utomi’s intervention comes amid public debate over academic integrity, the verification of professional credentials and the need to distinguish substantiated allegations from unverified claims.
The allegations against Kila remain a matter requiring evidence-based scrutiny.
Utomi’s defence does not, in itself, establish the authenticity of Kila’s qualifications, just as the allegations require appropriate verification and a fair opportunity for response.
