Kogi State Polytechnic has reaffirmed that a dubious Environmental Resource Information (ERI-Centre) is unknown to the institution.
Reacting to a pre-action notice from D Independent Attorneys demanding retraction, public apology, and compensation for defamation and unlawful detention of Mr. Yusuf Abdulaziz Okadigbo, the impostor manager of a fictitious environmental resource centre, the Directorate of Legal Services at Kogi State Polytechnic refuted claims of institutional involvement in the said project, including the allocation of office space.
Furthermore, the polytechnic clarified that a press release allegedly issued on the 29th of August, 2025, was actually published on the 30th of July, 2025, in response to identity theft and illegal use of the institution’s property by Mr. Yusuf Abdulaziz.
The polytechnic asserted that Abdulaziz was arrested by the Nigeria Police Force two days before the publication was issued and, therefore, denied any wrongdoing leading to his alleged unlawful detention. The polytechnic also notified that Abdulaziz had jumped bail and should make himself available to the police for further legal proceedings.
In a letter addressed to A.T Ahmed, Esq, Principal/Founding Partner of D Independent Attorneys, the polytechnic urged the legal practitioner to consult his client to provide formal letter of allocation from the Polytechnic Management including a Memorandum of Understanding, if any, to justify his claim.
The letter, signed by J.A Mamudu, Director, Legal Services, stated further:
“You further claimed that the Directorate of Public Relations of the Polytechnic issued press release dated“ 29th August, 2025”, while your letter of notice under reference is dated 11th August, 2025. This goes to show that you are either not properly briefed by your client or you are not conversant with the simple date of the month. The claim is pre-emptive, as “29lh August, 2025,” which you alluded to is still in the future.
“However, for clarification, the Polytechnic issued a publication on 30th July, 2025, in respect of impersonation of the corporate identity of the institution by one Mr. Yusuf Abdulaziz, who used the identity of the institution under one ‘Environmental Resource Information Centre’ to defraud
unsuspecting members of the public. The publication made by the Polytechnic was, therefore, in good faith, as it was meant to safeguard its hard earned corporate image and identity.
“You also alluded that the publication by the Directorate of Public Relations of the Polytechnic led to the ‘unlawful detention’ of your client for three days. This is also not true. However, the Polytechnic reported one Mr Yusuf Abdulaziz to the Nigeria Police Force for identity theft and illegal use of the Polytechnic property, and he was arrested on 28 July, 2025, two(2) clear days before the said publication was issued by the institution.
“In view of the foregoing, the Polytechnic owes your client no form of apology whatsoever, and he is therefore, not entitled to any form of compensation from the institution.
“The above notwithstanding, we would like to advise that you should be properly briefed by your client on the issue to avoid being misled. In addition, we advise that you prevail on your client who
has jumped bail in respect of this issue, to make himself available to the Nigerian Police Force, for further legal process.”
