The Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja ,has apprehended 32 students of the institution for writing the second-semester examinations at a Sarki Noma Miracle Examination Centre, a suburb near the Polytechnic.
The rector of the institution, Dr. Salisu Ogbo, stated this while addressing newsmen in Lokoja Tuesday.
He said two of the centres discovered includes the Champion and California Lodges at Sarki Noma in Lokoja metropolis.
He said: “Just few days ago, I got an intelligence report in respect of existence of examination “Magic Centres” both within the campus and in some parts of Lokoja.
“We immediately set investigative machineries in motion to ascertain the authenticity of the report, the centre being controlled by a syndicate of some disgruntled elements in our system was discovered right in the heart of Lokoja.
“These students were at one of the “Magic Centres” writing their examination while examination for the course(s) in question was going on in the approved halls on the campus.
“Let me re-emphasise that this was a normal practice though some disciplined members of staff in the Polytechnic doubted its existence, before we were able to unravel this academic decadence with evidence on Thursday November 5th, 2020.”
He stated that a team of security was able to burst one of the centres called “Champion Lodge” at Sarkin Norma after the primary school just as the suspects escaped before the arrival of the security team.
He added that a total of 32 scripts already answered with respect to different courses with students’ particulars respectively written were retrieved from “Carlifonia Lodge” at the same “Sarkin Norma” where the scripts were kept for onward transmission to their principals.
The acting rector said the effort of the security outfit in the institution led to the arrest of some of the participants at the “Magic Centre” on Friday November 6th, 2020, saying the suspects who confessed not only participated but also paid N2,000. per paper.
Dr. Ogbo said the perpetrators and their accomplices will face the institution’s rules and guidelines.
He stated further that all the suspects will appear before the examination committee for appropriate action, adding that his primary responsibility in the polytechnic is to leave a positive mark that posterity will be proud of.
