A Deputy Registrar at the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, is among nine members of a syndicate allegedly specializing in forging statements of results and educational certificates belonging to the institution.
The Rector of the Polytechnic, Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman, disclosed this during a press conference held in Lokoja on Thursday.
According to him, the Deputy Registrar, whose name was withheld for security reasons—and five other staff members from the Exams and Records Unit identified as part of the syndicate have been suspended indefinitely.
He added that four others, including three current students and one former student, were also implicated and have been apprehended in connection with the forgery scandal.
Professor Usman said the suspects were uncovered through intelligence reports and routine verification exercises jointly conducted by the Admissions, ICT, and Security Units of the Polytechnic.
He further revealed that a detailed investigation has been launched in collaboration with relevant law enforcement agencies.
“A total of 30 forged Statements of Result bearing different names, National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) certificates, several fake official stamps, stamp pads, and admission letters were recovered from the suspects,” the Rector stated.
Describing the discovery as “alarming and audacious,” Professor Usman said some of the suspects went as far as applying for HND admission using fake ND results purportedly issued by the same institution.
“Even more shocking, others forged both ND and HND results and then dared to apply for the collection of original certificates using those fabricated results,” he said.
The Rector further disclosed that the nine suspects, comprising both staff and students, would face appropriate disciplinary measures in addition to criminal prosecution.
“These individuals compromised our internal security arrangements and tampered with the security features on our Statements of Result.
“They colluded with result processors to prepare results for individuals with multiple carryovers who refused to sit for their examinations, falsely portraying them as graduates.
“Such criminal acts strike at the heart of our institution’s integrity and cannot go unpunished,” he emphasized.
Professor Usman went on to list some of the cases uncovered:
Amina Mustapha, who was never a student of Kogi State Polytechnic, allegedly forged ND and HND results in Computer Science and attempted to obtain original certificates in connivance with some staff of the Exams Unit.
Mfon Asuquo, a former student with multiple carryovers, fraudulently obtained a forged statement of result and also attempted to collect an original certificate with the aid of the same staff members.
Danjuma Mercy Sunday, who allegedly worked with Abubakar Musa (Matric No. 2024/HND/URP/052), Adejoh Faith (Matric No. 2024/HND/OTM/179), Ademu Rilwan (Matric No. 2024/HND/BUS/158), and Henry Tope, a former student described as the “mastermind” of the forgery ring.
Professor Usman said four of the suspects were arrested during registration exercises and handed over to the Polytechnic’s security unit, whose investigation led to the unmasking of the wider network.
He also revealed that Mr. Dominic Egwuda, a staff member of the Exams and Records Unit and a central figure in the case, is currently on the run after refusing to honor the school’s invitation.
“Mr. Egwuda’s name appears repeatedly in this forgery saga. We appeal to members of the public to provide any useful information that could lead to his arrest.
“Through him, we hope to uncover the full extent of this criminal network,” the Rector stated.
He added that one of the suspended staff members was found with 30 forged Statements of Result, several fake official stamps, stamp pads, and admission letters in his possession.
Reaffirming the institution’s zero-tolerance stance on academic fraud, Professor Usman said:
“Kogi State Polytechnic maintains zero tolerance for academic fraud, result falsification, and all forms of unethical conduct.
“While some may feel we acted hastily in going public, we believe transparency is key. We do not want a repeat of the 2020 Ayeni case, which has lingered without resolution.”
He assured stakeholders and the general public that the Polytechnic’s quality assurance and security mechanisms remain active and uncompromised.
“All individuals found culpable will be handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution. We shall not relent in exposing and eliminating misconduct capable of tarnishing the hard-earned reputation of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja,” he concluded.
(Nigerian Post)
