The management of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, has removed Mr. Aremu Abubakar Garuba from his position as the Director of Students’ Affairs.
His removal comes barely three weeks after The Informant247 released a report detailing how he diverted over N10 million in student funds into several personal accounts.
Published on October 21, the report revealed that Mr. Aremu, a top ally of the institution’s Rector, and who was appointed in February 2024, diverted a total of N10,285,000 to various personal accounts, just five months into his appointment.
When questioned about the purpose of the funds, he told The Informant247 to “forget about the evidence” that he diverted the funds, adding that “whatever was done was with the knowledge and approval of the Rector (Dr. Abdul Jimoh) and student officials”.
The institution’s spokesperson, Halima Garba, confirmed his removal to The Informant247 on Wednesday.
She added that Mr. Garuba was removed alongside four other directors at the institution.
The Informant247 had gathered that a committee set up by the institution’s management to probe the diversion report had reportedly recommended his removal, demotion, and the return of the diverted funds.
However, it is unclear whether the other recommendations were approved by the management.
Earlier this year, The Informant247 reported how the Rector, Engr. Abdul Jimoh Muhammed made false claims about the institution’s financial status and likewise how he commissioned shoddy and unfinished projects despite millions released for the projects.
Earlier, the state government said it uncovered massive corruption involving staff of the Polytechnic. However, it did not take any further steps to prosecute the staff implicated in the alleged corrupt practices.
In 2022, the state government again accused the Polytechnic Rector of making illegal and backdoor staff recruitment. This practice, it warned, would attract sanctions from the government. Yet, nothing was eventually done afterward.
