No. 21B, Ujeme Close,
Ekpoma,
Edo Sate.
25th October, 2017

The Chairman,
Independent Corrupt Practices and
Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC),
Abuja


Sir,

AUCHI POLYTECHNIC, AUCHI SITTING ON A KEG OF GUNPOWDER – A CURIOUS INTERVIEW

INTRODUCTION
Following the expiration of Dr. (Mrs.) P.O. Idogho’s tenure in 2015 as the Rector of Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo Sate, an advertisement was placed in Daily Trust of November, 18th 2015 (Photocopy attached) a machinery was set of in motion to ensure that all process were religiously followed in the appointment of a Substantive Rector. These processes include the constitution of a search team, screening committee, conduct of an interview for duly screened candidates. This is exactly what obtains in all Federal Polytechnics.
When screening was done and qualified candidates were shortlisted, interview was eagerly being awaited when suddenly the shortlisted candidates were informed that a high powered panel of interviewers comprising Nigerians of proven integrity had been set up. This comprises of:
Dr. Folashade Esan – Permanent Secretary – Chairman
Dr. Masa’ud Kazaure, E/S, NBTE – Member
Director, Tertiary Education, FME – Member
Rep. Federal Character Commission – Member
Two (2) Serving Rectors – Member
Mr. Vincent Okhani, Elected Representative of Academic Board Member, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi
Barr. Austin Ainabor, Elected Representative of Academic Board Member, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi
Dr. (Mrs.) M.I. Aashikpelokhai, Registrar, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi – Secretary.
These eminent men and women eventually conducted an interview on 13th July, 2016 with every staff of the polytechnic hoping that within three months, at most, a Substantive Rector would be announced for the institution, the way it was done for Federal Polytechnics at Offa, Kwara State, Ekowe in Bayelsa State and Kazaure in Jigawa State. May we point out here that a total of Twenty-Eight (28) applicants were interviewed on that day, including a Lecturer III who had not even spent up to five (5) years in the system. This we learnt was to prevent any other room for frivolous petition again. The outcome of this interview is still being awaited till now.

ADVERTISEMENT IN THE GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER OF AUGUST 25TH, 2017 PAGE 45
To the amazement of all and sundry, another advertisement for the vacant position of Rector came out again in the Guardian Newspaper of Friday, August, 25, 2017 when the result of a properly organized interview is still being awaited. This is indeed an aberration, rape of justice, due process and a devastating slap on the anti-corruption crusade of this present administration.

A CURIOUS INTERVIEW
The Governing Council of Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi under the chairmanship of Chief Michael O. Oloyo surreptitiously organized another curious interview wherein qualified candidates like Mr. Obomeghie Adamu Abdulkareem, Engr. Lemmy Ogie-Aitsebokhai and many others were unlawfully not communicated of the shortlist and interview (exclusion).
This was done in order to pave way for their anointed candidate, Dr. Sanusi Momodu Jimah, The Acting Rector, to fully have his way.

REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ACADEMIC BOARD
Against all known procedures and what is well spelt out in the enabling laws for the appointment of Vice Chancellors, Provosts and Rectors, the Acting Rector in collaboration with the Governing Council had picked two (2) Chief Lecturers, Mr. V.A. Dibua and Dr. Shaibu Alasa to Represent the Academic Board in the curious interview.
This is an aberration and breach of procedures as the representatives of the Academic Board are obtained by election, wherein every Academic Board members are eligible to contest keenly or have the franchise to vote.
Apart from the fact they were not duly elected and therefore did not represent the interest of the Academic Board, they are also facing criminal charges wherein the court had ordered their interdiction since 2016. (see attached charge sheet).
Against this backdrop, there was no representative of the Academic Board in the surreptitious curious interview conducted by Chief Michael O. Oloyo and his cohorts.

TOTAL ABSENCE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF RELEVANT AGENCIES IN THE CURIOUS INTERVIEW
The enabling laws for the appointment of Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts which the Federal Academic Institutions like Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi has always adhered strictly to, was again undermined by the Governing Council of Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, the Acting Rector, and the Acting Registrar during the surreptitious curious interview, Purportedly conducted on the 19th of October, 2017 at the Polytechnic Boardroom amidst tight security, was devoid of the representatives of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Federal Character Commission.
This is very contrary to all known procedures in line with the enabling laws.

BARR. G.O. EBOREIME AND SIR. O.F. EBOREIME
The Latter is an ex- Rector of Auchi polytechnic while the former is the present Ag. Registrar of the same institution.
Barr. G.O. Eboreime is less than a month old as the Ag. Registrar as he was brought in through the back door to do their bidding after clandestinely forcing the Registrar, Dr. (Mrs.) M.I. Aashikpelokhai to proceed on a three (3) months compulsory leave in order to perpetuate their evil machinations.
This whole drama was orchestrated by the Acting Rector and the Chairman Governing Council, ably being supervised by Chief Tony Momoh, who allegedly signed a bail bond and surety to get the Governing Council Chairman from prison at Alagbon in Lagos when Chief Michael Olarenwaju Oloyo allegedly killed three (3) young men at his hometown, Imogah in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria.
There is absolutely no gainsaying the fact that Chief Oloyo is reciprocating a kind gesture by doing Chief Tony Momoh’s bidding by undermining all extant Laws and due process.
Sir, O.F. Oboreime an ex-Rector of Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi is a brother to the “stooge” the Acting Registrar, Barr. G.O. Eboreime(secretary to council). The enabling laws stipulates that two (2) past Rectors from other Polytechnics shall (must) be members of the panel and not a past Rector from the same institution, even if a past Rector was to be invited as an observer, why not the immediate past Rector, Dr. (Mrs.) P.O. Idogho or Prof. A.K. Yesufu?
Why having two (2) brothers in the same panel which also negates the dictates of the enabling laws.

FINANCIAL EMBARRASSMENT
That the Acting Rector, Dr. Sanusi Momodu Jimah is currently having issues that borders on the violation of the public Procurement Act of 2007 and his referral to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is no longer news.
Upon the completion of the Bureau of Public Procurement’s (BPP) investigation into his embezzlement of Public Funds, non-adherence and compliance to circulars from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) obstruction of the Bureau’s investigation process, where he forcefully confiscated letters meant for individual procurement officers, the Bureau slammed its hammer on him in line with the relevant provisions of the PPA, 2007, which empowers the Bureau to refer such cases to the anti-graft agencies, yet the Governing Council is pretending to be oblivious of such financial crimes and criminality as perpetrated by their anointed candidate, Dr. Sanusi Momodu Jimah.
Not minding this curious stance of the Governing Council especially Chief Michael O. Oloyo who is judiciously acting out Chief Tony Momoh’s script and while believing in the dictum that “it is better to jaw jaw than war war”, the entire staffers’ bowel of patience is being blown beyond proportion, hence our bringing these absurdities to your notice with the hope that you could look into them dispassionately and prevent Auchi Polytechnic from boiling over.


PRAYERS
As we do not want to be initiated by our Governing Council actions or inactions in the institution into the notorious cult of the riotous who believe that only violence can be used to achieve desired aims, we therefore pray that:
The Kangaroo (surreptitious) and curious interview organized by Chief Micheal O. Oloyo and his “stooge” in Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi on the 19th of October, 2017 for the appointment of Rector be disregarded as it is an insult and total shame to both humanity and the anti-corruption crusade of this present administration.
The Ministry of Education, NBTE and should please not drag staff up to a point of resorting to self-help of either broadcasting this to the whole world through the Human Rights Radio (Brekete) or Organize a Press Conference in all the Television and Radio Stations.
The apartheid regimes are over.
Yours faithfully,


SHAIB IDRIS MOHAMMED ALHASSAN ODION
08032432659 08098782244
For and on behalf of the silent majority in Auchi polytechnic

Cc:
The Chairman,
Federal Character Commission,
FCT, Abuja

The Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Education,
Federal Secretariat, FCT,
Abuja.

Permanent Secretary,
Federal Ministry of Education.


The Executive Secretary,
National Board for Technical Education (NBTE),
Abuja

The Chairman,
House Committee on Tertiary Education,
National Assembly,
Abuja

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF),
Three Arms Zone,
Abuja