The Management of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has issued a statement clarifying the circumstances surrounding the arrest of an individual, Comrade Abdulaziz Yusuf Okadigbo, who allegedly impersonated the institution’s management and solicited funds from international organizations and government agencies using a fake Environmental Resource Centre.
The clarification was made in a statement by the institution’s Director of Public Relations and Protocol, Uredo Omale, and made available to journalists on Wednesday in Lokoja.
According to the institution, Okadigbo, in connivance with a staff member in the School of Environmental Technology, had been using the name, identity, and logo of the polytechnic to obtain funds without authorization.
The management said the institution has documents showing that Okadigbo and his cohort used a fake Centre, dubbed “Environmental Resource Information Centre (ERIC),” to request funds from government agencies, Dangote Cement Company, and corporate bodies in several countries.
The management categorically stated that Okadigbo is not a representative, agent, or affiliate of the institution and was never authorized to act on its behalf or use its insignia.
The institution, therefore, urged the general public, corporate organizations, and government agencies to disregard any past or future requests for financial or institutional support made by Okadigbo or his cohort in the name of or under the official logo and insignia of Kogi State Polytechnic.
“Any such correspondence or engagement is considered null, void, and of no consequence on the institution.
“The institution remains committed to upholding the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct in all its dealings.
“It will continue to cooperate with security agencies to ensure that all fraudulent activities are exposed and appropriately sanctioned.
“The staff member involved in the scandal is being investigated for proper internal administrative procedure and further legal action,” the management stated.
The management further cautioned against attempts to politicize or misrepresent the circumstances of Okadigbo’s arrest, emphasizing that the law should be allowed to take its full course without interference or emotional manipulation.