By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The management of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has uncovered a major certificate forgery and document falsification syndicate involving a Deputy Registrar and eight others. The institution has vowed to ensure all those involved face the full weight of the law.
The Rector, Professor Salisu Usman Ogbo, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing journalists in his office. He described the discovery as “an assault on the credibility and reputation of the institution” that would not go unpunished.
According to Prof. Ogbo, the syndicate comprised students, non-students, and staff members who conspired to manipulate academic records, forge certificates, and falsify official documents for personal gain.
“A Deputy Registrar in the Polytechnic is among nine members of a syndicate specializing in forging statements of results and educational certificates,” the Rector said.
Investigations revealed that the group falsified National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) results and attempted to collect original certificates using the forged documents. Some suspects also tampered with the institution’s official security features on statements of result.
Prof. Ogbo identified one of the suspects, Amina Mustapha, who, in collaboration with a staff member, Mr. Dominic Egwuda—now on the run—allegedly forged ND and HND results in Computer Science and attempted to obtain original certificates. Investigations later confirmed that Amina had never been a student of the polytechnic.
“Investigation revealed shocking levels of audacity and deceit,” Prof. Ogbo stated.
“Some suspects forged ND results and used them to apply for HND admission in the same institution, while others forged both ND and HND results and even applied for original certificates for the fabricated documents.”
The Rector further revealed that four suspects were apprehended during registration with forged statements of result. Their arrest led to the exposure of the wider syndicate.
In another related case, a staff member in the Examinations and Records Unit was found with 30 forged statements of result bearing different names and programmes. Security operatives also recovered several fake official stamps, stamp pads, and admission letters from his residence.
Prof. Ogbo recalled that before his administration, the polytechnic’s academic integrity had been compromised by widespread forgery of security documents. However, he noted that his management team had since introduced a more secure Statement of Result template, which significantly reduced such incidents.
The Rector reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to maintaining transparency, accountability, and integrity.
“We shall not relent in our effort to expose and eliminate all forms of misconduct capable of tarnishing the image of Kogi State Polytechnic,” he said.
“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.”
