The war of words between Nigerian streamer Carter Efe and Babcock University escalated this week after the entertainer brushed off the institution’s threat of legal action, turning the controversy into fresh comic fodder for his online audience.
The saga traces back to an interview with content creator Egungun of Lagos, during which Carter Efe, whose real name is Oderhohwo Joseph Efe, claimed he graduated from Babcock University with first-class honors in biochemistry.
He went further, posting what he described as his graduation certificate on X, indicating that he had graduated in 2023. According to one account, the claim actually dates back further, with Efe having first asserted during a livestream in late September 2025 that he attended Babcock, studied biochemistry, and topped his graduating class.
Babcock University wasted no time disowning the document. In a statement issued Monday, the Ogun State-based institution branded the certificate “false, unauthorized, and fraudulent,” insisting it did not originate from the school.
Officials pointed out that the certificate in question was tied to a supposed “Honorary Certificate” issued to Efe by the Babcock University Biochemistry Computer Club, a body the school says does not actually exist.
The university was also keen to correct the academic terminology itself, stating flatly that there is no classification known to Babcock as “first class upper,” with first class honors being the only recognized top-tier distinction.
It added that academic excellence is only formally certified through official degree certificates and transcripts issued by the Office of the Registrar, not by student clubs or associations.
Beyond the denial, Babcock signaled it was prepared to escalate matters legally. The school warned that it would pursue appropriate legal action against those responsible for the forgeries and cautioned more broadly that anyone found producing, circulating, or using forged academic documents to gain employment, admission, or other advantages could face investigation and prosecution under Nigerian forgery and fraud laws.
The institution also said it had begun both civil and criminal proceedings against individuals or organizations misusing its name, logo, seal, or credentials.
Rather than address the forgery allegations directly, Carter Efe used a livestream to poke fun at the university’s threat. Playing up his celebrity status, he suggested that Babcock would have to pay handsomely just to get an audience with him, joking that the school would need to cough up N100,000 for a “ticket” before any meeting could happen and teasing that his response was “coming soon.”
The flippant reaction has divided his online following. Some commenters have accused him of mocking a serious institution over what amounts to fraud, with one social media user writing that he was making a huge mockery of the university, while others have rushed to his defense, with at least one follower insisting online that they believed Carter Efe and accusing others of lying.
The certificate saga is only the latest headline-grabbing episode for Carter Efe, who has also been in the news recently over a celebrity boxing win against fellow entertainer Portable, a bout that itself drew accusations of being scripted.
Whether Babcock University’s legal threats will translate into actual court action or fizzle out amid the streamer’s trademark theatrics remains to be seen.
For now, the university’s message is clear: it wants the public, employers, and other institutions to verify any Babcock-linked credentials directly through its registrar’s office rather than take viral certificates at face value.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
This is a straightforward case of a public figure claiming an academic credential he didn’t earn and an institution moving swiftly to protect its name. Babcock University has categorically confirmed that Carter Efe’s “First Class Upper” certificate is fake; the classification doesn’t even exist at the school and has begun pursuing legal action over it.
Carter Efe, rather than addressing the forgery claim, has responded with jokes and a mock “ticket fee,” turning a serious allegation into online entertainment. The key takeaway: don’t mistake his comedic deflection for a resolution, the certificate has been officially declared fraudulent, and the legal matter is still very much unresolved.
