The National Association of Nigerian Students has accused the Rector of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, Ogun State, Dr Rauf Adegoke, of alleged fraud in the disbursement of funds under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
NANS President, Babatunde Akinteye, alleged that the institution uploaded figures higher than its approved school fees on the NELFUND portal, thereby raising concerns over possible irregularities in the scheme.
According to Akinteye, the Polytechnic charges N236,000 as school fees for Higher National Diploma I students but allegedly uploaded N350,000 on the NELFUND portal.
He further claimed that while National Diploma II students pay N152,000, the institution reportedly uploaded N330,000 for the category on the portal.
Akinteye accused the management of charging above approved school fees and called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the matter.
He also threatened that NANS would publish the names of institutions allegedly involved in similar practices and petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for a thorough investigation.
Reacting to the allegations, the management of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic dismissed the claims as false and unfounded.
In a statement issued by the institution, the management said it was shocked by a viral video and statement allegedly made by the NANS president linking the Polytechnic to NELFUND fraud.
The statement read, “The allegations are entirely false, misleading, and without any factual basis.”
The institution maintained that it had built a longstanding reputation for integrity, transparency, accountability and academic excellence, insisting that it would never engage in activities capable of undermining the Federal Government’s educational intervention programmes.
According to the management, the Polytechnic remains fully committed to supporting NELFUND and other educational initiatives of the Federal Government.
The statement added, “We are confident that such an exercise will affirm the Institution’s strict compliance with all applicable guidelines and procedures.”
The Polytechnic also expressed support for the administration of President Tinubu and the Ogun State Government under Governor Dapo Abiodun, particularly in advancing educational reforms and student welfare programmes.
To demonstrate its commitment to transparency, the institution invited the leadership of NANS and other relevant stakeholders to conduct a comprehensive fact-finding exercise, including a forensic audit of all NELFUND-related records and transactions.
