Kogi Poly Suspends 7 Lecturers Over Sex-For-Marks, Handout Sales Amid Cultism Crisis

Kogi Poly Suspends 7 Lecturers Over Sex-For-Marks, Handout Sales Amid Cultism Crisis

• The management of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has suspended seven lecturers following separate allegations of sexual harassment and unauthorised sale of handouts, as investigations intensify into a wider campus crisis involving cultism, intimidation of female students, and weakening institutional discipline.

The management of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has taken decisive action against seven lecturers over allegations ranging from sexual harassment to the unauthorised sale of handouts and textbooks, sources have confirmed. According to the institution’s Public Relations Officer, John Onimisi, six lecturers were suspended on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, for allegedly engaging in the illegal sale of handouts to students, while a seventh lecturer was separately suspended over a specific allegation of sexual harassment. The suspensions, however, appear to be only the tip of the iceberg, as multiple sources within the polytechnic have raised alarm over a deepening crisis on campus, with claims that sex-for-marks practices, cult-related activities, and a general breakdown of discipline have surged under the current administration.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Mr. Onimisi confirmed that the disciplinary action was taken after the institution’s management received credible reports of misconduct involving academic staff. The statement read in part that six lecturers were suspended on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, by the management of the institution for the unauthorised sale of handouts and textbooks, while a lecturer was also suspended for alleged sexual harassment. The affected lecturers are currently facing internal investigation, and the polytechnic has assured that appropriate sanctions will be imposed if they are found guilty by the institution’s disciplinary committee.

While the official statement focused on the suspensions, insiders have painted a troubling picture of systemic misconduct that has allegedly taken root at the polytechnic. These allegations suggest that the suspensions are merely a response to a much deeper and more pervasive problem affecting the institution’s academic and social environment. Sources familiar with developments at the institution alleged that some lecturers, particularly from the Department of Public Administration and Department of Graphics Design, have been demanding sexual favours or monetary payments from female students in exchange for passing grades. One particularly disturbing account claimed that a lecturer instructed a female student to book and pay for a hotel room as a precondition for passing his course. When the student reportedly reported the incident, she was met with intimidation rather than institutional support, sources said, adding that female students who speak up are often victimised and receive little or no protection from the school authorities.

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In addition to sexual misconduct, sources claimed that cult groups have resurfaced on campus, holding nocturnal meetings and reportedly conducting initiations near female hostels. These activities, sources said, have continued despite being reported to campus security personnel on multiple occasions, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of the institution’s security apparatus and its commitment to student safety. A recurring complaint among sources is the perceived weakening of disciplinary measures since the resumption of the current Rector, Professor Salihu Sanusi Avidime. Allegations include lax enforcement of the institution’s dress code policy, which has allowed students to appear on campus in inappropriate attire without consequence, and a failure to enforce the mandatory use of student identity cards, permitting unauthorised persons to access campus facilities and potentially contributing to security breaches. Furthermore, there has been a return of compulsory handout sales, which had previously been banned under the institution’s earlier administration, forcing students to purchase materials they may not need or want. Overall, sources point to a general decline in staff accountability, emboldening both lecturers and students to engage in misconduct with impunity.

Responding to the growing allegations, Mr. Onimisi stated that the school management is fully aware of the claims and has already referred the matter to the institution’s disciplinary committee for thorough investigation. He assured that the school management is aware of the allegations, and the disciplinary committee of the Polytechnic is already investigating them, adding that the outcome will be made available to journalists in due course. He further pledged that any staff or student found culpable would face the full weight of the institution’s disciplinary framework, sending a strong signal that misconduct will not be tolerated.

For students, parents, and education stakeholders, the unfolding scandal raises serious concerns about safety, academic integrity, and the overall learning environment at Kogi State Polytechnic. Female students are particularly vulnerable, with allegations of sexual coercion creating a hostile academic atmosphere where their educational pursuits are compromised by predatory behaviour from those entrusted to teach them. The resurgence of cultism threatens campus security and undermines the polytechnic’s ability to provide a safe space for learning, potentially discouraging enrollment and tarnishing the institution’s reputation. The weakening of discipline suggests a systemic failure that may require intervention beyond the institution’s internal mechanisms, possibly involving external regulatory bodies to restore order.

Stakeholders have called on the polytechnic management to expedite the disciplinary process and make findings public to restore confidence in the institution’s commitment to justice. They also urge the management to strengthen protection mechanisms for students who report misconduct, ensuring that whistleblowers are shielded from retaliation and intimidation. There are calls to reinforce campus security to curb cult-related activities and restore a sense of safety among students and staff. Additionally, stakeholders demand that the management reintroduce and strictly enforce dress codes, ID card policies, and bans on handout sales to re-establish a culture of discipline. Finally, there is a growing demand to engage external oversight bodies such as the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to ensure accountability and provide independent monitoring of the institution’s reforms.

The disciplinary committee is expected to conclude its investigations in the coming weeks, and the polytechnic management has promised to communicate its findings to the public through the media, ensuring transparency in the process. In the meantime, students and staff await action that will determine whether Kogi State Polytechnic can restore its reputation as a credible institution of higher learning and whether meaningful reforms will be implemented to prevent a recurrence of these troubling incidents.

 

Kogi Poly Suspends 7 Lecturers Over Sex-For-Marks, Handout Sales Amid Cultism Crisis