ARISE News Bars Anthony Kila Over Academic Credentials Allegations

ARISE News has barred political analyst Anthony Kila from appearing on its television channel and other platforms following allegations concerning his academic qualifications raised by an investigation published by Premium Times.

The television network announced the decision on Tuesday, October 13, in a disclaimer issued by its Editorial Board, saying Kila would no longer feature on its platforms with immediate effect.

According to the statement published on ARISE News’ website, the network contacted Kila on October 3 and presented him with the allegations arising from the newspaper’s investigation.

The network said Kila requested additional time to respond but had not provided a response 10 days after the allegations were presented to him.

ARISE News added that the allegations had worsened during the period, although it did not specify the additional claims in its disclaimer.

The network said it had been unaware of the allegations when Kila appeared on its programmes as a freelance political analyst.

It added that it took matters of credibility and integrity seriously and had considered the findings of the Premium Times investigation in deciding to end his appearances.

The network stated that Kila would not appear on its platforms at any time in the future.

The decision followed a series of investigations by Premium Times into Kila’s professorship and other academic qualifications.

In its first report, published on October 3, the newspaper questioned his claim to be a professor and a Jean Monnet Professor of Strategy and Development.

The newspaper reported that it found no evidence that a recognised academic institution had awarded him the professorial title. It also reported that Kila identified the European Centre for Advanced and Professional Studies as the institution that awarded him the title in 2016, but the newspaper could not establish the institution’s existence.

In a subsequent investigation published on October 10, Premium Times examined his claimed bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral qualifications, reporting discrepancies between his academic profiles and the list of qualifications he supplied to the newspaper.

The investigation also cited responses from institutions concerning some of the qualifications Kila claimed to have obtained.

Aston University, according to the report, said its student registry contained no record of Kila studying for an MBA. City St George’s, University of London, reportedly said he enrolled in a Banking and International Finance programme in 2000 but was deregistered without completing it.

The University of Essex also reportedly told the newspaper that it had never offered the postgraduate diploma in Media and Communication that Kila claimed to have obtained from the institution in 1992.

Premium Times further reported that Kila said he was gathering his academic and professional documents and that they would be ready soon.

The controversy has also affected Kila’s position at Michael and Cecilia Ibru University in Delta State, where he served as pro-chancellor.

Premium Times reported on October 10 that the university had suspended him following the earlier investigation into his professorial title.

The newspaper had also reported that the institution removed his profile and photographs from its website after the allegations emerged.

The developments have placed renewed attention on the verification of academic qualifications and professional titles held by individuals appointed to positions of responsibility or regularly presented as experts in the media.

However, the allegations concerning Kila’s qualifications remain distinct from a judicial determination of wrongdoing.

ARISE News’ announcement confirms its decision to discontinue his appearances, while the details of the academic claims are based on the findings and institutional responses cited in the Premium Times investigations.