By George K. Momo
MONROVIA, Oct. 18 (LINA) – The National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) has turned over a Turkish national, identified as Uyar Ugur, to the Liberia National Police (LNP) for investigation following allegations that he possessed academic credentials purportedly issued by the University of Liberia (UL) that could not be verified by university authorities.
Mr. Emmanuel N. Geh, Director of Communication at the National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) speaking in an interview with the Liberia News Agency (LINA) on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, disclosed that Ugur was arrested on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 when he approached the NCHE to obtain a letter of attestation to authenticate his academic credentials.
He stated that verification conducted with the University of Liberia revealed that his name did not appear in the institution’s official records as a graduate.
The NCHE Communication boss noted that the disputed document indicates that Ugur obtained an engineering degree from the University of Liberia on February 25, 2026, graduating with Magna Cum Laude, an academic distinction awarded for high academic achievement.
“The discrepancies discovered during the verification process prompted further inquiries into the authenticity of the documents presented,” he stated.
He further said that the NCHE preliminary review identified inconsistencies involving the documents’ dates, signatures, academic records as well as institutional designations.
“One document, dated September 2026 and bears the name of Aaron Sengbay, a former University of Liberia registrar who was previously suspended over allegations relating to the issuance of questionable academic credentials,” he stated.
Mr. Gweh indicated that concerns emerged regarding the academic institution and program identified in related documentation, including discrepancies between the college named in the documents and the University’s established academic structure.
The NCHE communications boss noted that the findings raised questions about the origin of the documents, the authorization of the signatures appearing on them, and the process through which the credentials were allegedly obtained thus prompting his turned over to state security to probe the matter.
” The matters require thorough investigation and the allegations have not reached a stage of callusing therefore we need to involve the court of competent jurisdiction,” he added.
Mr. Emmanuel N. Gweh disclosed that during preliminary questioning, Ugur stated that he was transferred from Turkey to the University of Liberia to pursue engineering studies and completed one year of online coursework.
He pointed out that information obtained during the inquiry also suggests that an intermediary may have been involved in the process through which the documents came into his possession.
He indicated that the identity and role of any such individual, as well as the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of the documents, remain subjects for further investigation.
The NCHE communication officer stressed that it is important to establish whether the documents were knowingly presented as authentic despite being irregular or whether the individual may have been misled by persons claiming to facilitate university enrollment and academic documentation.
The National Commission on Higher Education head of communication reiterated the Commission commitment to safeguarding the credibility of Liberia’s higher education system and ensuring that academic qualifications presented for official recognition are properly verified.
He intimated that verification is essential to protecting students, employers, educational institutions, professional bodies, and the public against fraudulent academic documentation.
“Following the preliminary inquiry, Ugur was taken initially to the Zone #3 Police Station in Monrovia before being transferred to the headquarters of the Liberia National Police for further investigation,” he narrated.
Meanwhile, the NCHE Communications officer has urged the public to allow the investigative process to proceed without speculation or premature conclusions regarding the guilt or innocence of the individual involved, while reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the protection of academic standards.