A group of concerned individuals at the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) has submitted a petition to the governing board of the institute, accusing the Human Resources Director, Adenike Adesanya, of age falsification, improper salary withdrawals, and serious misconduct.
In a letter dated 25th February, addressed to the governing board, the petitioners stated that their actions were taken to uphold the principles of transparency, accountability, and responsible management of public resources.
The complaint alleges that Mrs. Adesanya has been receiving full government salaries and benefits since 2024, despite already reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60 years. The staff members pointed out discrepancies related to her date of birth, noting that her international passport identifies her birth year as 1964, whereas her official records at FRIN indicate it as 1966.
This inconsistency, according to the staff, constitutes a deliberate falsification of her age, effectively extending her tenure by two additional years and leading to alleged illegal financial withdrawals amounting to millions of naira.
Furthermore, they claim that Mrs. Adesanya has continued to use her passport with the 1964 date of birth for both official and private international travel, including recent trips in December 2025 and January 2026.
The petition mentions, "Despite having reached 62 years of age, she continues to report for work and refuses to leave her position." The staff also accused her of pressuring the Director-General, the Chairman of the Governing Board, and other management personnel to raise her retirement age to 65 years, arguing that this lies outside the institute's statutory authority.
The employees attached copies of her international passport and other documents verifying that her actual birth year is 1964 to support their claims.
Demands
The concerned staff have requested that Mrs. Adesanya be asked to temporarily step down to facilitate a thorough, independent, and forensic investigation concerning her true date of birth as well as the financial transactions in question.
Additionally, they called for the recovery of any salaries, allowances, and benefits that have allegedly been obtained illegally over the previous two years.
They expressed confidence in the FRIN Governing Board to handle the situation fairly and swiftly, urging that the matter be treated with urgency in order to restore integrity within the institute and prevent future misconduct.
As of the time of this report, there has been no public response from Mrs. Adesanya or the FRIN management regarding the allegations.
When approached on Sunday, Mrs. Adesanya requested that this reporter visit the institute in Ibadan for her to address the matter, stating, "I cannot talk to you. I don’t know who you are; come to the institute in Ibadan if you need answers."
Several senior officials within the institute have corroborated the claims made against her. One senior figure noted that it is expected for her to resign to allow a full investigation, emphasizing that age falsification is a serious crime that requires action.
"Once accused, she should be placed on leave and subjected to investigation by the Disciplinary Standing Committee, with findings to be reported to the Governing Council for a decision," another high-ranking official informed.
Governing Board Response
In response to the allegations raised in the petition, the FRIN Governing Board Chairman, Zacharia Yaduma, sent a letter dated 27 February addressing Mrs. Adesanya, urging her to respond to the claims by noon on 2 March 2026 or risk disciplinary action.
The letter stated that the board had received a formal petition containing serious allegations of age falsification concerning her official records and service details, which must be addressed within the specified timeframe.
It read, "The petition asserted that you allegedly altered your official records to show 1966 as your birth year, while your international passport indicates 1964. Given the severity of the claims, you are required to submit a detailed written response to the petition, addressing all concerns raised by 2nd March 2026 (12:00pm) while you remain in your position."
Failure to comply with this directive could be perceived as an admission of guilt, leading to the initiation of appropriate disciplinary actions, as articulated in the Public Service Rules.
Public Service Regulations
According to the Federal Public Service Rules, serious misconduct includes acts of substantial wrongdoing and inappropriate behavior detrimental to the service's reputation, which may be investigated and could potentially lead to dismissal.
This list specifies offenses such as "Falsification of records," "Corruption," "Embezzlement," "Misappropriation," "Fraud," and other actions deemed unbecoming of a public officer.
The rule outlines provisions for suspension when evidence has been preliminarily established against an officer, necessitating their temporary removal from duty while the investigation is underway. An officer suspended in this manner is to cease all work duties and, without approval, cannot leave their assigned posts, receiving half of their salary during the suspension period.
About FRIN
Founded in 1954 and located in Ibadan, Oyo State, FRIN serves as Nigeria's primary governmental body dedicated to forestry research, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable forest management. It operates under the Ministry of Environment, focusing significantly on research related to forest products, wildlife, and agroforestry.
The institute’s key mission aims to ensure environmental protection, restoration of degraded ecosystems, and the sustainable use of forest resources to support development initiatives.
Additional Information
However, despite FRIN's mandate, its influence across Nigeria's significant biodiversity areas has been described as limited, with ongoing challenges including deforestation and unlawful logging in forest and savanna fringes.
Environmental advocates have consistently highlighted the perilous status of Nigeria's forest coverage, estimating only 3.7% to 12.8% remains forested—a drastic decrease from past decades.
The rapid pace of deforestation, driven by agricultural expansion, illicit logging, and charcoal production, results in an annual loss of 350,000 to 400,000 hectares, threatening biodiversity and contributing to desertification.
"FRIN is experiencing a crisis. It demands all the support it can garner at this moment," expressed a long-serving official from the institute.
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