The management of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has urged the Kogi State House of Assembly to arrest and prosecute one of its staff members, Mr. Abdul Hassan Sani, for alleged involvement in a salary scam.
According to the institution, Mr. Sani made several attempts to defraud the Polytechnic through false claims.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Director of Public Relations and Protocol, Mrs. Uredo Omale, on behalf of the management.
Omale explained that the issue stemmed from payroll irregularities dating back to 2014 — six years before the current administration took over the institution’s leadership.
She said, “The matter began following a complaint by Mr. Abdul Hassan Sani, which led to a letter from the Office of the Auditor General of Kogi State on August 3, 2021, seeking clarification on why his name was removed from the payroll.”
According to her, the Polytechnic’s Registrar, in a response dated August 31, 2021, clarified that Mr. Sani had presented an appointment letter as an Assistant Executive Officer but had no evidence of documentation, posting, or screening clearance in the institution.
Further investigation revealed that the file number he claimed belonged to a female staff member duly employed in 2014, who had verifiable documentation and screening records.
“Despite the lack of evidence of employment, Mr. Sani was paid salaries from June 2014 to November 2015,” Omale added.
She noted that earlier this year, the institution received a summons from the Kogi State House of Assembly Committee following another petition by Mr. Sani. The Registrar appeared before the Committee and provided the same explanation previously submitted to the Auditor General’s Office.
Omale emphasized that the current leadership of the Polytechnic has maintained a transparent and accountable payroll system, adding that it was the present management that uncovered the hidden irregularities.
She expressed appreciation to the State House of Assembly for its objectivity and to the administration of Governor Yahaya Bello for its commitment to eradicating payroll fraud through staff audits and screening exercises.
The Polytechnic, she said, has now called on the House of Assembly to ensure the arrest and prosecution of Mr. Sani to serve as a deterrent to others.
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