By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has suspended seven lecturers over alleged sexual harassment and the unauthorised sale of handouts and textbooks, as fresh allegations of cult activities and “sex-for-marks” practices trigger anxiety among students.
The institution’s Public Relations Officer, John Amos Onimisi, confirmed the suspensions while responding to allegations of misconduct and other disciplinary breaches within the Polytechnic.
Onimisi said six lecturers were suspended on July 22, while another lecturer was suspended separately over allegations of sexual harassment.
He explained that the Polytechnic’s disciplinary committee was investigating the allegations and would take appropriate action where culpability was established.
The PRO also assured that the outcome of the investigations would be made available to journalists.
The management’s action followed allegations by students and other sources within the institution of a possible resurgence of cult-related activities, sexual harassment and other forms of misconduct.
Some students alleged that female students were increasingly being subjected to sexual advances by lecturers in exchange for favourable academic treatment.
According to the sources, some lecturers allegedly threatened female students with poor grades unless they submitted to sexual advances or paid between ₦70,000 and ₦80,000 to influence their examination results.
One source further alleged that a female student was instructed by a lecturer to book and pay for a hotel room before her academic issues could be addressed.
The student was said to have reported the matter to a management official but had yet to receive what the source described as satisfactory intervention.
The allegations have heightened concerns among students, who accused the institution’s management of allowing some disciplinary safeguards introduced by the previous administration to weaken.
They specifically cited enforcement of dress codes, compulsory identity cards and sanctions against lecturers accused of unethical conduct as measures they claimed were no longer being strictly enforced.
Students also raised concerns over alleged renewed cult activities on campus.
A source alleged that suspected cult initiation activities had resumed, including an alleged midnight gathering near a female hostel about two weeks ago.
The source claimed that security personnel alerted the authorities about the incident, but alleged that the development had not sufficiently deterred subsequent activities.
There were also allegations that the ban on the unauthorised sale of handouts had been disregarded by some lecturers.
According to the students, some lecturers allegedly compel them to purchase course materials despite the financial pressure arising from the recent increase in school fees.
The students appealed to the Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, to intervene and ensure that the allegations were thoroughly investigated.
They warned that failure to urgently address the alleged misconduct and security concerns could undermine academic standards and threaten the safety and welfare of students and staff.
However, the Polytechnic management, through its PRO, said it had already commenced disciplinary measures against staff accused of wrongdoing.
Onimisi reiterated that the disciplinary committee was investigating the allegations and assured that appropriate sanctions would follow where wrongdoing was established.
He added that the institution would make the outcome of the investigation available to journalists