The management of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has launched an investigation into a nine-member syndicate allegedly involved in certificate forgery and document falsification within the institution.
Gatekeepers News reports that speaking at a press conference on Friday in Lokoja, the rector, Dr. Salisu Ogbo, said five staff members have been suspended, while four individuals identified as students are currently in police custody for their roles in the racket.
Ogbo said, “Only recently, the management uncovered a syndicate involving some students, non-students, and a few dishonest staff members accused of manipulating academic records in clear disregard of due process and institutional values.”
He revealed that 30 forged National Diploma (ND) certificates were discovered, which were allegedly sold to unsuspecting buyers.
According to him, some of the perpetrators even applied for Higher National Diploma (HND) admission in the same polytechnic using forged documents.
The rector explained that the fraud was uncovered through intelligence gathering and verification checks carried out by the admission, ICT, and security units.
He added that the suspects tampered with the institution’s result security features and colluded with result processors to prepare fake results for students with multiple carryovers who refused to complete their examinations.
Describing the act as a direct attack on the polytechnic’s integrity, Ogbo vowed that those found guilty would face appropriate disciplinary and legal actions.
He further assured stakeholders and the public that Kogi State Polytechnic remains committed to upholding transparency, accountability, and the credibility of its certificates.
The rector said, “We will not relent in our effort to expose and eliminate all forms of misconduct capable of denting the hard-earned reputation of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja.”
