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| RUGIPO |
The Ondo State Public Complaints, Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption Commission has arraigned two employees of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, over alleged involvement in the falsification of students' examination results.
The defendants, Segun Olowoyo, a lecturer in the institution's Department of Languages, and Saka Olokungboye, a non-academic staff member and chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics at the school, were brought before an Akure Magistrate's Court on charges bordering on conspiracy and forgery.
According to the prosecuting counsel, Afolabi Ahmed, the defendants allegedly collaborated with another suspect, who is currently at large, to manipulate the examination records of a National Diploma II spillover student in the Department of Public Administration.
Ahmed told the court that the alleged offence occurred in February 2023 within the Owo Magisterial District and involved the alteration of the student's 2022/2023 second-semester results.
The prosecution said the actions of the accused persons contravened provisions of Sections 516 and 467 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ondo State.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
The prosecutor informed the court that three witnesses would be called to testify during the trial.
Ruling on their bail applications, Magistrate O.T. Lebi granted Olowoyo bail in the sum of N1 million with one surety in like sum, while Olokungboye was admitted to bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties.
The court also directed that at least one of the sureties must be a staff member of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic.
The matter was subsequently adjourned until July 2026 for commencement of hearing.
Meanwhile, the anti-corruption commission disclosed that its investigation into alleged examination malpractice within the institution uncovered evidence suggesting that Olowoyo awarded grades in a Communication in English course to some students who allegedly did not participate in the examination.
The commission alleged that one of the beneficiaries was the student whose result was at the centre of the case, while Olokungboye was identified as a collaborator in the alleged scheme.
Speaking on the development, the Secretary of the commission, Prof. Adewole Adeyeye, said the prosecution underscored the agency's resolve to tackle corruption and unethical practices in public institutions.
He stated that the case would be pursued to a logical conclusion to deter similar misconduct and reinforce public confidence in the state's tertiary education system.
The commission also raised concerns over internal oversight mechanisms at the institution, alleging that examination results were approved without adequate scrutiny.
The arraignment comes amid growing calls for improved accountability in higher institutions, with education stakeholders warning that academic fraud threatens the credibility of certificates and the integrity of the nation's education sector.
Source: The Hope Newspaper
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