The management of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has launched an investigation into a syndicate of nine suspects allegedly involved in certificate racketeering and document falsification within the institution.
The Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof. Salisu Ogbo, disclosed this while addressing journalists on Friday in Lokoja. He said the syndicate was uncovered following an internal audit and security surveillance that exposed fraudulent activities linked to the production and sale of fake academic documents.
According to the rector, five staff members of the institution have been suspended to allow for an unhindered investigation, while four individuals who claimed to be students have been arrested and handed over to security agencies for further interrogation.
Prof. Ogbo described the discovery as “a disturbing breach of trust,” vowing that the management would not tolerate any form of academic fraud capable of tarnishing the institution’s image.
He said, “We have zero tolerance for corruption and indiscipline.
The Polytechnic under my leadership will continue to uphold the highest standards of integrity. Anyone found culpable in this criminal act will face the full weight of the law.”
The rector also assured the public that ongoing investigations would be thorough and transparent, adding that the institution had strengthened its verification processes to prevent future occurrences.
He commended security agencies for their swift intervention and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sanitising the system and protecting the credibility of the Polytechnic’s certificates.
“This institution must remain a place of learning, not a marketplace for forged credentials,” Prof. Ogbo said. “We are determined to restore public confidence and ensure that only merit prevails in our academic records.”
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