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Security nabs mastermind of fake Kogi Polytechnic profile used to scam Dangote, other global firms
CAPE TOWNSOUTH AFRICA, 06MAY11 – Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Group, Nigeria, during the African Fellowship Programe with Young Global Leaders announcement at the World Economic Forum on Africa 2011 held in Cape Town, South Africa, 4-6 May 2011. Copyright (cc-by-sa) (C) World Economic Forum (www.weforum.org/Photo Matthew Jordaan matthew.jordaan@inl.co.za
The management of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has identified Abdulaziz Yusuf Okadigbo as the mastermind behind a fraudulent fundraising scheme that targeted major corporations including Dangote Cement and government agencies, both in Nigeria and abroad.
In an official statement issued by the Polytechnic’s Director of Public Relations and Protocol, Uredo Omale, the institution confirmed that the suspect was recently arrested by security operatives in Lokoja.
According to the statement, Okadigbo, who is not an employee of the Polytechnic, illegally used the name, logo, and official identity of the institution to establish a fake outfit called the Environmental Resource Information Centre (ERIC).
The statement further revealed that Okadigbo worked in collaboration with a staff member from the Polytechnic’s School of Environmental Technology, presenting ERIC as a legitimate unit under the institution in order to solicit funding from local and international organizations.
“We are in possession of documents confirming that Abdulaziz Yusuf Okadigbo and his cohort used the fake Centre, ERIC, to solicit funds from Federal and State government agencies, Dangote Cement Company, and corporate bodies in China, the USA, Kenya, and Sweden,” the Polytechnic said.
The management emphasized that Okadigbo was never employed by the institution and was never granted any authorization to act or speak on its behalf.
“The Polytechnic’s governing council is the only body empowered to approve the creation of official units or centers. At no point did the council approve the so-called Environmental Resource Information Centre (ERIC),” the statement noted.
The institution described the scheme as a gross violation of public trust, impersonation, and a direct attack on its credibility. It confirmed that the staff member implicated in the scheme is currently under internal investigation and may face disciplinary and legal consequences.
In response to the scandal, the Polytechnic warned the public, corporate institutions, and government agencies to disregard any solicitations or funding requests made by Okadigbo or his associates in the name of Kogi Polytechnic.
“Any such request is fraudulent, illegal, and should be treated as null and void,” the statement declared.
The Polytechnic also issued a stern warning against any attempt to politicize or manipulate the case, stressing the need for the law to take its full course.
“The matter must be allowed to proceed without interference, blackmail, or emotional manipulation. Justice must prevail,” it stated.
The management reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, ethical governance, and its resolve to collaborate with law enforcement agencies in rooting out fraud and protecting the institution’s integrity.
