Graceland Polytechnic Report: Journalists urge govt to investigate, get justice for students

By Maryam Berende

The Head of Investigations at Informant247, Yemi Sodeeq, has called on the Federal Government and relevant law enforcement and regulatory agencies to take over the alleged accreditation and admission irregularities at Graceland Polytechnic, Offa (GPO), describing the situation as a case of deception against unsuspecting students.

Speaking on Fourth Estate talk show aired on The Informant247 TV on Wednesday, Yemi specifically charged the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Nigeria Police Force, alongside other regulatory authorities, to step in and investigate the matter.

He said the allegations go beyond administrative lapses, stressing that students reportedly invested years of study, money and resources only to graduate with certificates that could not be used for further education or career progression.

Yemi argued that any institution found to have operated outside regulatory approvals should face sanctions, adding that justice must be served to all affected students who, according to him, suffered significant losses as a result of the alleged misconduct.

Also speaking on the programme, investigative journalist with Informant247, Toheeb Omotayo, said his investigation uncovered how Graceland Polytechnic allegedly admitted students into unaccredited programmes and left many of them stranded after graduation.

Toheeb noted that many students focused mainly on gaining admission without verifying the accreditation status of their courses, a situation he said was compounded by assurances allegedly given by the institution that graduates would gain direct entry into universities or pursue studies abroad.

He cited the Mass Communication department as an example, alleging that the programme had remained unaccredited since 2019, yet over 1,000 students were admitted, with the figure later dropping to about 600 after some students withdrew or transferred upon discovering the accreditation issue.

According to Toheeb, some affected graduates are unable to use their certificates for further studies, while others are said to be emotionally distressed. He also referenced an audio recording allegedly involving a former Head of Department who reportedly admitted that the certificates issued were not useful.

He further alleged other irregularities, including instances where students were reportedly issued results in courses different from what they studied, as well as claims that inducements such as scholarships and reduced tuition fees were used to attract enrolment.