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The management of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has uncovered a result falsification syndicate involving students, non-students, and a few staff members of the institution.
The Rector of the institution, Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman, described development as “an assault on the credibility and reputation” of the polytechnic.
Addressing journalists at a press briefing on Thursday Professor Usman said the discovery followed intelligence reports and routine verification exercises jointly conducted by the Admissions, ICT, and Security Units of the institution, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies.
According to him, investigations revealed shocking instances of forgery and deceit, with some individuals forging National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) results in the name of Kogi State Polytechnic and attempting to use them to secure admissions or obtain original certificates.
“Some of the suspects had the audacity to forge both ND and HND results and even applied for the collection of original certificates with those fabricated documents. They colluded with result processors to prepare results for individuals who had multiple carryovers but refused to sit for their examinations, thereby falsely portraying them as graduates,” he said.
Among those implicated in the scandal are one Amina Mustapha, who, though never a student of the Polytechnic, forged ND and HND results in Computer Science and attempted to obtain an original certificate with the connivance of some staff members.
Another suspect, Mfon Asuquo, a former student who absconded with several carryovers, was also found to have fraudulently obtained a statement of result in a similar manner.
The Rector further named Dansuma Mercy Sunday, 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, as key figures in the forgery ring.
“We are pleased to inform the public that four suspects involved in the forgery were apprehended during registration. Their arrest led to the unmasking of the broader syndicate behind the fraud,” Professor Usman added.
The Polytechnic, he disclosed, has suspended five staff members, including a Deputy Registrar, while one of the principal suspects, Mr. Dominic Egwuda, a staff member alleged to have facilitated forged certificate requests, is currently on the run.
Further investigations led to the recovery of 30 forged Statements of Result, fake official stamps, stamp pads, and counterfeit admission letters from the residence of Henry Tope, identified as the mastermind of the operation.
Professor Usman reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to transparency and accountability, emphasizing that the Polytechnic maintains zero tolerance for academic fraud and other unethical practices.
“Any staff member, student, or external collaborator found culpable will face the full wrath of the law, in addition to institutional disciplinary measures. All individuals involved in this forgery scandal will be handed over to the Police for further investigation and prosecution to serve as a deterrent to others,” he said.
The Rector, who recalled the Polytechnic’s earlier exposure of the Sarkin Noma Magic Centre—a fake examination centre busted in 2020—said the latest incident would not derail the institution’s ongoing reforms to uphold academic excellence and integrity.
He assured stakeholders and the general public that the Polytechnic’s security and quality assurance mechanisms remain robust and uncompromised.
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