Alleged Fraud: Kwara Poly Warns Against False Publications

By Steve Oni, Ilorin

Rector, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Engr. (Dr) Abdul Jimoh Mohammed, has expressed utter dismay and disgust over the spate of fake and unsubstantiated fake news against the polytechnic authority by “some uncouth and reckless online media”.

A statement by the Deputy Registrar, Information and Publication Division of the polytechnic, Alhaji Ajibola S. Jimoh, stated this while reacting to allegations of fraud and financial impropriety levelled against the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Hajia Sadatu Modibbo Kawu, and the polytechnic management by an online media.

The statement said: “The misleading publication was not only an assault on the personalities of the Hon. Commissioner for Tertiary Education Science and Technology, Hajia Sadatu Modibbo Kawu, as well as the Chairman of the Institution’s Governing Council, Engr. (Dr) Salihu S. Yaaru, and the Rector; but also a deliberate attempt to sway the mind of the unsuspecting members of the public from the laudable efforts of the State Government in sanitising the running of tertiary institutions in the state.”

According to the statement, the Rector said: “I would have responded to each of the allegations levelled by the purveyor of the fake and fabricated story, but I wouldn’t want to preempt the outcome of the report of the Visitation Panel currently on fact-finding mission to the Polytechnic, ably led by Dr. Fatai Bello, and which is yet to present its reports to the Executive Governor of the state, His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

“On the issue of disengagement of Dalash Communications International from operating the Polytechnic Portal; it was the Governing Council that called for a forensic audit of the records of the Bursary Department, Internal Audit Unit and Dalash Communications International, in respect of financial transactions on the Polytechnic’s Portal.

“Therefore, it was necessary to place the leadership of the Bursary and Audit Unit on suspension, and stop the services of Dalash Communication International, in order to prevent undue interference in the investigation process. Therefore, the next most senior member of the Bursary department was made to serve in acting capacity, pending the outcome of the staff audit exercise.

“The Salary Account of the Polytechnic was transferred from Keystone Bank to FCMB Bank, because other banks did not cooperate with the Management when they were requested to disclose necessary information on the monthly wage bill of the Polytechnic, upon assumption of duty by the new Rector.

“It was this act of insubordination by the banks that made the Governing council to embark on Staff Audit. The exercise was conducted at no cost, contrary to the fallacious claim that a sum of fifty million naira was expended on it.

“It suffices to reiterate that the Honourable Commissioner for Tertiary Education has never been involved in the day to day running of the Polytechnic because there is a Governing Council in place. Therefore, the innocent woman is being witch-hunted for her stern determination to ensure that tertiary institutions in the state are run in line with the due process and transparency. So this is a case of corruption fighting back.

“In the light of the foregoing, Engineer (Dr) Abdul Jimoh berated the online publisher for failing to crosscheck the facts of the issues about the Polytechnic before rushing to misinform the unsuspecting members of the public. I therefore cautioned that erring media men who failed to respect the rules of the profession by publishing one-sided and baseless insinuations should be prepared to face the legal consequences of their actions. I also commended members of the prints and electronic media and other matured journalists, who have always approached the Polytechnic for clarifications of issues before rushing to the Press.”