The management of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has identified Abdulaziz Yusuf Okadigbo as the suspect recently arrested for allegedly attempting to defraud individuals and corporate organizations, including Dangote Cement.
In an official statement released by the institution’s Director of Public Relations and Protocol, Uredo Omale, the Polytechnic disclosed that Okadigbo had been using the institution’s name, logo, and identity without authorization to solicit funds from both local and international entities.
The statement revealed that Okadigbo, in collaboration with a staff member from the School of Environmental Technology, created a fictitious organization called the Environmental Resource Information Centre (ERIC), falsely presented as a legitimate unit of the Polytechnic.
“We have verified documents showing that Okadigbo and his accomplice used ERIC to approach federal and state agencies, Dangote Cement, and corporate organizations in countries including China, the U.S., Kenya, and Sweden, requesting financial support,” the statement read.
The Polytechnic stressed that Okadigbo is not an employee nor an authorized representative of the institution and was never granted permission to use its identity for any purpose.
“Only the Governing Council has the legal authority to authorize such entities. No such approval was ever given for ERIC,” the management clarified.
The institution condemned the act as criminal impersonation, gross misconduct, and a serious breach of public trust. The implicated staff member is currently under internal investigation and may face disciplinary and legal action.
The Polytechnic also warned the public and organizations to ignore any solicitation linked to the suspect or his collaborators, emphasizing that such actions are fraudulent and illegitimate.
In closing, the statement urged that the case not be politicized or manipulated, calling for due legal process to take its course without interference or intimidation.
Kogi State Polytechnic reaffirmed its commitment to integrity, transparency, and continued cooperation with law enforcement to combat fraud and protect the institution’s reputation.
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