By Archie Boan
An investigation by Verity News has unearthed series of leaked audio recordings, exposing Prof. Cyrus Johnson, a lecturer of Social Science 201 at both the United Methodist University (UMU) and the University of Liberia (UL).
Johnson is at the center of a brewing academic scandal after he was allegedly heard demanding money from students in exchange for passing grades.
In the leaked audio recordings, Professor Johnson is heard telling UMU who failed his course to pay no less than US$50 in order to secure a pass. At UL, the price was reportedly reduced to US$25 for students who failed.
One recording captures a UMU student pleading with Johnson to accept US$30 instead of the required US$50. The lecturer, however, flatly rejected the appeal, insisting that he “cannot accept nothing less than US$50.” Similar exchanges involving UL students were also revealed.
When contacted by this news outlet, Johnson admitted to making the statements in the audios but claimed that it was a tactic to instill seriousness in students.
“I know they won’t afford that money, so I asked everyone who failed in my subject to pay a certain amount of money for grades,” Johnson explained to Verity News.
The administrations of both the United Methodist University and the University of Liberia have yet to issue official statements regarding the scandal as reported by this paper.
