Nigeria, Oct. 18 -- Pat Utomi, a Nigerian political economist, has faced criticism for defending Anthony Kila despite evidence questioning the authenticity of the academic qualifications and titles the latter claims.

Mr Utomi, in a Facebook post on Saturday, said Mr Kila was a "smart and good man" and described suggestions that he had never attended school as "spectacularly stupid".

However, several Facebook users objected, arguing that Mr Utomi's defence focused on Mr Kila's intelligence and character rather than addressing the central issue of whether he obtained the qualifications and academic titles attributed to him.

Ekokoi Solomon, a law lecturer at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, said Mr Utomi was addressing an issue dif...