A major certificate forgery scandal has hit Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, following the suspension of five staff members, including a Deputy Registrar, Dominic Egwuda, for their alleged roles in a widespread document forgery syndicate.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday in Lokoja, the Rector, Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman, disclosed that the embattled Deputy Registrar had absconded and failed to appear before the institution’s investigative panel.
“Further investigation led to the suspension of five staff members, including a Deputy Registrar, Mr. Dominic Egwuda. He has refused to honour our investigation and is presently on the run,” the Rector said.
How the Forgery Ring Was Uncovered
The Rector revealed that the syndicate’s activities came to light after a student, Dansuma Mercy Sunday, approached the institution to collect her statement of result — a request that triggered verification by the Admission and ICT Units.
This routine check led to the arrest of four suspects: Abubakar Musa, Adejo Faith, Ademu Rilwanu, and Henry Tope, a former student believed to be the mastermind of the forgery network.
“Their arrest followed intelligence reports and a verification exercise carried out by our Admission, ICT, and Security Units in collaboration with law enforcement agencies,” Prof. Usman explained.
The Rector added that the group forged both ND (National Diploma) and HND (Higher National Diploma) certificates, with some suspects using the fake ND certificates to gain HND admission, while others used them to request original certificates.
Staff and Non-Students Involved
Investigations revealed that the network included students, non-students, and dishonest staff members, some of whom allegedly helped outsiders obtain forged credentials.
Prof. Usman cited a case involving one Amina Mustapha, who, alongside the Deputy Registrar, appeared to collect ND and HND certificates in Computer Science — only to be discovered as never having attended the Polytechnic.
“Her matriculation number was non-existent, and she never studied here,” the Rector stated.
Security operatives also discovered 30 forged statements of results, fake official stamps, and admission letters in the home of a staff member from the Exams and Records Unit.
Meanwhile, the alleged kingpin, Henry Tope, confessed that he charged ₦70,000 to “process” forged statements of result for clients.
Arrests and Sanctions
According to the Polytechnic’s Chief Security Officer, Emmanuel Attai, the operation began after one suspect was caught at the school gate with a fake statement of result.
“We intercepted one of the suspects at the gate, and further investigation led to the arrest of others, including some staff members,” Attai said.
Prof. Usman reaffirmed the school’s zero-tolerance policy for academic fraud, warning that all culprits will face legal prosecution and internal sanctions.
“The Polytechnic will not condone academic fraud or unethical conduct. Anyone found guilty will face the full wrath of the law,” he declared.
Security agencies are currently tracking the fleeing Deputy Registrar and other accomplices, while the school has launched an internal audit of its Exams and Records Unit to block future forgeries.
