Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, has denied any wrongdoing in an alleged certificate racketeering against the institution in relation to a National Diploma result issued to a student, Gregory Okwuchukwu Okoafor.
A lawyer, Okey Amechi, SAN, had written Abia Poly, over what he described as the manner in which the student, Okoafor was issued OND result in 2021.
Amechi demanded to know the authenticity of the result, adding that its authenticity was seriously in doubt, since according to him, as of December 2021 when the result had been issued, the school was yet to graduate students for the 2018/2019 session, which Okafor belonged to.
A human rights group, the Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy, (CRPA), also wrote the polytechnic over the same issue.
However, in a statement signed by the PRO, Mrs Stella Nwakanma, Abia Poly stated, “that the attention of the Abia Polytechnic, Aba has been drawn to a frivolous and malicious publication in both the online and mainstream media over an alleged certificate racketeering in the institution in relation to a National Diploma result issued to one Gregory Okwuchukwu Okoafor.
The statement said, “While the Polytechnic may not want to join issues with mischief makers, it wishes to categorically state as follows:
1) That the institution has at no time compromised it’s standard by engaging in certificate racketeering.
2) That the student in question was duly admitted by the institution and also fulfilled all conditions required for the issuance of his National Diploma Statement of result.
3) That the institution is ever ready to respond to any inquiries relating to its operations in line with laid down procedures.
4. That the institution is baffled that some media houses have thrown to the winds ethical issue of balance reportage, which requires that the positions of parties involved in an issue should be sought.
While urging for a balanced reportage on the matter, the release warned those who it said are hell-bent on dragging the name of the institution into the mud to desist from that.
The institution said it has mandated its legal team to explore all legitimate options to redress the issue.
