The management of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has suspended seven academic staff members following a wave of student complaints and escalating worries over campus discipline. Spokesperson John Amos Onimisi confirmed the disciplinary action, which covers allegations of sexual harassment and the unauthorised sale of handouts.
Among the seven suspended staff, six are accused of forcing students to purchase course materials and textbooks directly from them, in violation of a long-standing institutional ban. The seventh faces allegations of sexual harassment. All the cases have been forwarded to the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee, which will investigate and recommend appropriate sanctions.
Student Allegations of Sex-for-Marks and Financial Extortion
The suspensions follow weeks of complaints, particularly from female undergraduates, who alleged that some lecturers abused their positions by demanding money or sexual favours in exchange for passing grades. Student accounts and media reports linked lecturers in the Public Administration and Graphics Design departments to the complaints. Some students claimed they were asked to pay between ₦70,000 and ₦80,000 to avoid failing their courses.
In one widely reported allegation, a female student said a lecturer instructed her to pay for and book a hotel room before he would meet her. She also alleged that after reporting the incident to a senior management official, she faced intimidation instead of protection. These allegations have not yet been substantiated, and the accused remain innocent until proven otherwise.
Illegal Handout Sales Violate Institutional Policy
In addition to the sexual harassment claim, the polytechnic is tackling the issue of forced handout sales. The six suspended staff members allegedly required students to buy handouts and textbooks directly from them, breaching an explicit prohibition against such transactions. Because the policy clearly bars staff from selling course materials, these allegations amount to a serious violation of official regulations, moving the matter beyond a simple ethical dispute.
Whether the allegations are true will now be determined by the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee. The identities of the affected staff members will remain confidential until the committee concludes its work, according to the Kogi State Polytechnic announcement.
Cultism Concerns Resurface on Campus
Beyond the lecturer allegations, reports of renewed cult-related activities have raised fresh concerns at the institution. Students and security personnel reportedly observed increased secret cult activities around the campus in recent weeks. In one incident, security staff were alerted to suspected initiation rites taking place near a female hostel between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. The incident has led to urgent calls for tighter security and more rigorous enforcement of campus regulations.
Previous Disciplinary Cases
The latest suspensions are not the first time the polytechnic has clamped down on misconduct. In a previous case, Mukhtar Muhammed, an Administrative Officer II, was found guilty of sexually molesting a student and was immediately terminated. Although he was not a lecturer, the internal probe’s outcome underscored the institution’s hard line against abuse.
Similarly, in March 2023, the institution dismissed Abutu Thompson Okolo, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Language and Communication, after an investigation proved he had sexually harassed and victimised a female student from the Department of Computer Science. That decision was taken during the institution’s 68th Regular Governing Council Meeting. Those actions were reported by Punch Newspapers and TheCable. However, unlike those concluded cases, the seven academic staff currently under suspension have not been found guilty of any misconduct.
Polytechnic Promises Transparent Investigation
Kogi State Polytechnic has reiterated its commitment to maintaining high ethical standards among its staff. Spokesperson John Amos Onimisi said the institution has zero tolerance for sexual harassment, academic dishonesty, cult-related activities, and other forms of misconduct. "The Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee has commenced investigations into the allegations," Onimisi said, adding that the committee’s findings and any final disciplinary actions approved by the institution will be made public once the probe concludes.
Until then, the seven academic staff members remain suspended pending the outcome of the disciplinary process. The management has also stated that the identities of the affected staff will stay confidential until the committee finishes its work, as explained in the institution’s announcement. Students and other stakeholders are now waiting for the investigation to conclude, hoping the process will restore confidence in the polytechnic’s academic integrity and safety.
