The Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has launched a major investigation into a certificate racketeering syndicate, with nine suspects currently under scrutiny for alleged document falsification and forgery.

Professor Salisu Ogbo, the Rector of the Polytechnic, disclosed this during a press conference on Friday, revealing that the scheme involved both staff and students.

Breakdown of the Suspects

The investigation has so far identified:

• Five staff members of the institution, who have been suspended.
• Four individuals, described as “acclaimed students,” who have been arrested.

How the Syndicate Operated

According to Prof. Ogbo, the syndicate engaged in criminal activities that severely compromised the institution’s academic integrity. Their methods included:

• Forging National Diploma (ND) certificates in the polytechnic’s name and using them to apply for Higher National Diploma (HND) programs within the same institution.
• Tampering with security features on official Statements of Result.
• Colluding with result processors to prepare passing results for students who had actually failed or refused to sit for their examinations.

The rector stated that management has already discovered 30 forged original certificates that were sold to prospective buyers.

The fraud was uncovered through intelligence reports and routine verification exercises conducted by the institution’s Admission, ICT, and Security units.

A Stern Warning and Assurance

Prof. Ogbo condemned the acts as “an assault on the credibility and reputation of our institution” and vowed that they would not go unpunished.

He assured the public and stakeholders that the polytechnic’s quality assurance and security mechanisms remain robust and that the institution is committed to exposing and eliminating all forms of misconduct to protect its hard-earned reputation.