The management of Kogi State Polytechnic has strongly refuted allegations of defamation and unlawful detention leveled against it by Mr. Yusuf Abdulaziz Okadigbo, who claims to be the manager of a purported Environmental Resource Information (ERI-Centre).
In a swift reaction to a pre-action notice filed by D Independent Attorneys on behalf of Okadigbo, the Polytechnic insisted that the so-called ERI-Centre is fake and has no official recognition within the institution. The Directorate of Legal Services further maintained that at no time was office space allocated to Okadigbo or his associates for the project.
The institution clarified that contrary to the claims of the legal team, no Memorandum of Understanding or letter of allocation exists between the Polytechnic and the alleged centre. This, it said, confirmed that Okadigbo acted independently in using the name of the Polytechnic for fraudulent purposes.
A major point of contention raised by the Polytechnic concerns the date of the publication cited by Okadigbo’s lawyers. While the legal counsel claimed that a defamatory press release was issued on 29th August 2025, the institution explained that the actual publication was released on 30th July 2025.
According to the Polytechnic, the press release was a proactive measure aimed at safeguarding its corporate image after discovering that its name was being fraudulently used by Okadigbo to mislead members of the public. The school stressed that its action was taken in good faith and cannot be considered defamatory.
On the issue of unlawful detention, the institution categorically denied involvement. It explained that Mr. Okadigbo had already been arrested by the Nigeria Police Force on 28th July 2025—two days before the Polytechnic issued its publication. The Directorate maintained that it merely lodged a formal complaint of impersonation and identity theft.
“The Polytechnic reported one Mr. Yusuf Abdulaziz to the Nigeria Police Force for identity theft and illegal use of Polytechnic property, and he was arrested on 28th July 2025. This was two clear days before our publication. The claim of unlawful detention is therefore unfounded,” the institution stated.
The Polytechnic also disclosed that Mr. Okadigbo had since jumped bail and was evading further legal proceedings. It urged his lawyers to advise him to submit himself to the authorities rather than misleading the public with false claims.
In a detailed letter addressed to A.T. Ahmed, Esq, Principal and Founding Partner of D Independent Attorneys, the Polytechnic’s Director of Legal Services, J.A. Mamudu, faulted the inconsistencies in the lawyer’s notice and described them as “pre-emptive and misleading.”
The letter pointed out that the supposed date of the press release (29th August 2025) cited by the lawyers had not even occurred at the time of their petition, a development which, according to the Polytechnic, exposed either misinformation by the client or poor briefing of the legal team.
The institution emphasized that its corporate image was at stake and that it could not allow fraudulent individuals to tarnish its reputation. It therefore rejected demands for compensation and a public apology, insisting that Okadigbo’s actions warranted police investigation rather than sympathy.
The Polytechnic further advised the legal practitioners to “be properly guided by facts rather than assumptions” and to desist from peddling unverified claims on behalf of their client. It reiterated its call for Okadigbo to return to the police to answer pending charges.
With the matter unresolved, stakeholders are watching closely as the Polytechnic stands firm in its position that the so-called ERI-Centre never existed within its structure and that its only crime was protecting itself against fraudulent impersonation.
