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Between April and June 2024, financial records obtained by The Informant247 reveal that the Director of Students Affairs at Kwara State Polytechnic, Mr. Aremu Abubakar Garba, diverted over N10 million in students’ funds into several personal accounts.

These funds, originally paid by students as part of their tuition fees into the Student Union Account for development projects, were transferred in multiple tranches to Mr. Aremu’s accounts with UBA, FCMB and OPAY.

The financial records obtained and analysed by The Informant247 showed that Mr. Aremu, a principal signatory to the Student Union’s account with Access Bank, diverted these funds in seven separate transactions over a period of three months.

On 15 April 2024, N2,000,000 was transferred to his FCMB account, leaving the union account with N11,698,723.77. Just days later, on 24 April 2024, another N2,000,000 was sent to the same account, bringing the total for April to N4,000,000.

In the following month, on 16 May 2024, N500,000 was transferred to his FCMB account, which is the only verified transaction for that month.

On 3 June 2024, a first transaction of N500,000 was made to his FCMB account. On the same day, an additional N4,705,000 was transferred to the same account. Four days later, on 7 June 2024, the sum of N480,000 was moved to his UBA account, again in the name of Aremu Abubakar Garba. Finally, on 19 June 2024, N100,000 was deposited into his OPAY account, a fintech digital service bank.

By the end of June 2024, Mr. Aremu, who is a top ally of the institution’s Rector and appointed in February 2024, had diverted a total of N10,285,000 to various personal accounts, merely five months into his appointment.

Staff, students’ complaints, petitions ignored

A few months after Mr. Aremu’s appointment, several staff and students started raising concerns about his alleged misconduct. Despite multiple complaints, their grievances were largely ignored by the Rector who sources said is privy to and approved most of his actions.

Sources told The Informant247 that the Student Union was supposed to invest in developmental projects using these funds. However, most of these projects were left undone and the funds diverted.

“This is how it works: If the Union, through the school, rakes in N50 million for this session, they must execute projects totaling that amount. These projects will be supervised by the school through the Director of Students Affairs, which is why he is also a signatory to their account,” a staff member, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Informant247. “It’s unfortunate that the very person who should guide them is the one conniving with them to move the funds to personal accounts.”

The Informant247’s further interviews with six students from three different departments showed that the students were at the receiving end of these illegal transactions between the former Student Union officials and Mr. Aremu.

“One of the intended projects was the distribution of souvenirs, including books, to students. However, the last distribution was different. Many students, including myself and several of my friends, didn’t receive anything,” a student, who requested anonymity for fear of retribution, shared with The Informant247.

Another student remarked, “What have they done with the funds they received? They forced us to pay these fees, which are increased annually. There’s no accountability. Last time, they claimed they constructed the student park but what they did was merely flooring. It’s really pathetic.”

However, on 17 July 2024, Mashood Ibrahim, a student, submitted a formal letter to the Rector detailing suspicious financial transactions involving Mr. Aremu and Student Union officials.

The letter sighted by The Informant247 alleged that Mr. Aremu illegally received N2,000,000 on 15 June and another N2,000,000 on 24 June from the students’ account. Independent checks by The Informant247, however, did not corroborate this claim.

“These transactions breach ethical standards and violate financial regulations governing Student Union activities,” the letter stated.

It further alleged that Mr. Aremu colluded with the Student Union executives, particularly the President and Treasurer, in diverting funds intended for student projects. Notably, N5,000,000 earmarked for souvenirs was reportedly mismanaged.

“I respectfully request that the Polytechnic administration conduct a thorough investigation into these illegal financial transactions and take appropriate disciplinary action against those involved. Stricter oversight and accountability measures are also necessary to prevent future incidents,” the letter concluded.

Nearly four months after the petition was submitted and despite several other complaints, The Informant247 reliably gathered that no action has been taken to address the alleged corrupt practices. Sources revealed that Mr. Aremu has claimed immunity from prosecution.

“He still boasts that he can do as he pleases. He told us that complaints from students and staff regarding his financial misappropriation will go unaddressed. He belongs to the Rector’s caucus, and, Yes, they are untouchable,” one source familiar with events at the institution told The Informant247.

Forget your evidences; I have Rector’s approval,’ Indicted Director boasts

When The Informant247 visited Mr. Aremu in his office and confronted him with our findings, he vehemently denied receiving any funds from the Student Union account into his personal accounts.

The Director, Aremu Garba

When further informed that there were verified financial records showing he received the money, he told The Informant247 to “forget about the evidence”.

When probed further on what the funds were meant for, he again insisted that he never received any students’ money in his personal accounts.

He sharply added that “whatever was done was with the knowledge and approval of the Rector (Dr. Abdul Jimoh), and Student officials”.

Money paid into students’ account for projects

A visibly shaking Mr. Aremu further furthered that funds in the Student Union account, to which he and two other student executives are signatories, can be accounted for.

He subsequently admitted that some funds were transferred into some students’ personal accounts during the renovation of the school’s car park.

“We got approval to renovate the school park. And we all agreed to do it on direct labour. When you are doing a project on a direct labour basis, you have to keep some money with you for the purposes you want to use it for. We domiciled some funds in students’ accounts. Forget about personal or no personal account; we are using the money for a particular purpose,” he said, adding that the school park was renovated with N6 million.

“With the work we did at that park, the money expended should have been more than that, but because it was direct labour, we were able to manage the money,” he told The Informant247, while showing some documents containing financial calculations and signatures. When asked if we could take pictures or record the documents for independent verification and assessment, he declined.

Further checks by The Informant247 confirmed that in April, the sum of N2,000,000 was transferred to one Isaac Olamilekan, a then Student Union official. On the same day, another N200,000 was transferred to his account. Additionally, the sum of N5,000,000 was transferred to one Hammed Damola Olugbode among several other personal accounts.

When contacted, the former SUG president, accused of assisting Mr. Aremu to divert the funds, declined to comment.

“You can reach out to the school for clarification. I’m no longer the president or a student,” he said and did not respond further when questioned about his personal involvement.

‘We haven’t seen something like this before’

After responding to several questions posed to him, Mr. Aremu told our team that officials of the Polytechnic have never experienced the kind of investigations being done by The Informant247 before.

“This has never happened in the history of Kwara Poly before, whereby you receive money or execute a project, and the next thing, you are being investigated. I can say that from my 35 years of experience in this school,” he said, with deep concern written all over his face.

He further accused The Informant247 of obtaining institutional records through illegal means.

Kwara Poly: A haven of corruption

Earlier this year, The Informant247 reported how the Rector, Engr. Abdul Jimoh Muhammed, made false claims about the institution’s financial status and likewise how he commissioned shoddy and unfinished projects despite millions released for the projects.

The Director, Aremu Garba

Earlier, the state government said it uncovered massive corruption involving staff of the Polytechnic. However, it did not take any further steps to prosecute the staff implicated in the alleged corrupt practices.

In 2022, the state government again accused the Polytechnic Rector of making illegal and backdoor staff recruitment. This practice, it warned, would attract sanctions from the government. Yet, nothing was eventually done afterward.

‘Director still under investigation’: Management

When contacted for comment, the institution’s spokesperson, Halima Garba, confirmed that a petition was submitted to the school management regarding the alleged misconduct of the Director.

She said, “I just received confirmation from the Rector. He is aware of the situation and said the case has been referred to the staff disciplinary committee, which is currently working on it. Since it is an allegation, we can’t take a position on it just yet.”

THIS REPORT WAS PUBLISHED WITH SUPPORT AND FUNDING FROM CIVIC MEDIA LAB

By Boluwatife Adedokun

When Adewale Rofiat Mayowa, a Blind mother of three, was employed by the Osun State Government to teach at the School for Special Needs in Osogbo in 2022, her joy knew no bounds. 

The 35-year-old mother of 3 from Osogbo had long anticipated this moment; the chance to contribute to the education of children with disabilities while securing a livelihood for her young family. 

But that joy was painfully short-lived. With the inauguration of Governor Ademola Adeleke came a sweeping decision that changed everything. All employed teachers, including Rofiat, were dismissed in one fell swoop, their dreams crushed overnight.

“I had waited for this opportunity for so long,” Rofiat said softly, her voice heavy with the weight of disappointment. “But it didn’t last. We were sacked because the immediate past administration of Gov Gboyega Oyetola employed us. No one considered what this would do to our lives.”

Her voice faltered as she described the impact of that decision. Despite her blindness, she had tirelessly worked alongside her colleagues. For five long months, she taught without receiving a fee, as the promise Governor Oyetola made to the 61 staff members, including her, never materialized into payroll inclusion. “I was just managing myself,” she recalled. “My husband had to foot most of the expenses.”

Rofiat’s dismissal has had devastating consequences on her. Her small business, which sells provisions, was already struggling, and the little she earned from it had been funneled into transportation to the school and other family expenses. “Our being sacked affected my business too. I always used money from my business to make ends meet,” she explains.

Her voice grew quieter as she spoke of her husband. “We manage the petty business I run, but it’s tough. He’s dealing with house issues; our rent has expired, and we don’t know where the next money will come from.”

According to her, what she desires most now, is for Governor Adeleke to intervene, especially in the payment of the arrears they are owed.

“I hope the governor hears us. We worked, we gave our best, and we deserve to be treated better.”

The Genesis 

A day after his inauguration as Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke issued six Executive Orders, one of which nullified the employment of all workers hired by his predecessor, Gboyega Oyetola, after he lost his re-election.

Among those affected were 61 persons with disabilities (PWD), who were part of the sacked teachers. The group has since raised concerns, alleging threats to their lives over their protests.

According to a statement by Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the Executive Orders addressed various issues, including chieftaincy matters, appointments, the establishment of a review panel, staff audits, and employment decisions.

However, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Osun State have voiced concerns in different reports over their exclusion from governance, calling on Governor Ademola Adeleke to prioritize their inclusion and improve the well-being of vulnerable groups in the state.

A few months after the dismissal of 1,500 teachers by Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke late last year, reports emerged that four of the affected teachers had died, allegedly due to depression.

Non-implementation of disability laws 

Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria face significant challenges, including societal stigma, limited access to education, healthcare, and employment, as well as poor infrastructure that does not accommodate their needs.

In 2019, Nigeria made a significant step by enacting the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, which aims to improve the welfare of PWDs by outlawing discrimination and providing a framework for the inclusion of PWDs in various sectors. However, despite the law’s existence, the implementation has been slow and inadequate, leaving millions of PWDs underserved, especially in rural areas.

In Osun State, PWDs face similar barriers. Despite advocacy efforts, meaningful inclusion in governance, education, and employment remains limited. 

The Osun State Disability Bill, which was passed to promote the rights of PWDs, has not been fully implemented, and the lack of political will has left many PWDs without the support they need. 

Jobless and Hopeless 

Mr. Ayeola Kamarudeen’s life took a dark turn after his dismissal from the Osogbo School for Special People, Powerline. 

As a trained teacher, his journey had begun with despair. “I’ve been jobless and unhappy since I graduated 6 years ago, he lamented.

Despite his dedication, Ayeola’s efforts to secure a permanent position failed. “All my efforts to make my teaching profession permanent has proved abortive,” he explained. 

His frustration deepened when Governor Oyetola did not offer him a permanent role, and his attempt to reapply under Governor Adeleke yielded no results.

Left without a job, Ayeola faced the harsh reality of trying to feed his two children. “Feeding them has been hard,” he admitted. “A friend often assists financially when I’m stranded.” His children attended a public primary school, but it wasn’t the life he had envisioned for them. 

From Hope to Despair

Omokanye Abiodun Olakunle, from Okuku, Odo-Otin LGA, recalled how his joy turned to despair after being sacked from his teaching job at the School for Special Needs, Ikirun. “When I received the appointment letter from Governor Oyetola, I was very happy and hoped to start a new chapter in my life,” he recounted.

An image of the inclusive school in Ikirun

That hope quickly dissolved when Governor Adeleke came into power and annulled their appointments.

Omokanye found himself returning to hard labor just to survive. He began working as a security guard, earning a meagre amount of N15,000 monthly. “The security work is just managing me,” he said with resignation. 

He clung to the hope that one day the government would reappoint him, but until then, survival meant enduring this meagre income.

For Omokanye, his experience during the recruitment process as a Deaf person was particularly painful. “I was called for an interview, but there was no sign language interpreter,” he recalled. Being Deaf, he had no way to effectively communicate, leading to yet another missed opportunity. “I wanted the government to provide interpreters during interviews,” he said.

Despite this, he remained vocal about the need for better treatment of people with disabilities. He urged the government to provide employment, empowerment, and financial assistance for those like him, who had been sidelined and neglected.

Mr Omokanaye Abiodun Olakunle

Babawale Simeon Obasanjo, a 36-year-old from Ejigbo LGA, had only worked at the Primary School for the Handicapped for three months before Governor Adeleke’s administration sacked him. “I wasn’t paid for the three months I worked before being dismissed,” he said. Left with no source of income, Babawale turned to farming just to get by.

“I had to manage by farming and doing manual labor to care for myself and my family,” Babawale shared.

Despite graduating from the University of Ilorin in August 2024, his dreams of a brighter future had crumbled under the weight of unemployment. “Life wasn’t easy; I depended on myself, working hard from secondary school to university, but without enough support.”

Denied Opportunities 

Babawale, who also served as the Chairman of the Osun State Association of the Deaf, Osun Chapter was particularly heartbroken by the systemic challenges faced by people with disabilities.

Babawale believed the government needed to address these disparities by providing not just teaching jobs but also other forms of employment for people with disabilities. “We need empowerment programs and financial assistance,” he urged, calling for better inclusion in the workforce.

One of the affected teachers in Osogbo, who requested to be anonymous, also spoke about the financial strain they faced after being sacked. “I didn’t get a job immediately after the dismissal, so I started making bags to survive,” they explained. But even that small business was barely enough to get by, especially after spending money on transportation for work that never materialized.

Now working at a private school, she shared the deep frustration of trying to rebuild their life after losing a stable job. “I felt stuck, unhappy, and unsure of the future,” they admitted, a sentiment echoed by many of their peers.

Cry for Equality and Support

For Mr. Ayeola, Omokanye, Babawale, and others like them, the government’s failure to provide permanent employment has left them grappling with a bleak future. 

Omokanye’s call for greater inclusion during recruitment processes and other members of the Deaf community. 

They have been denied equal opportunities simply because the necessary support, such as interpreters, was not provided. “The government must do better for people with disabilities,” Omokanye insisted.

Their plea for fairness is not just about employment but about being treated with dignity. “We deserve empowerment, training programs, and financial support,” Babawale added. For him, and others with disabilities, employment should be more than just a chance at survival, it should be an opportunity to thrive.

Expert Calls for Transparent Recruitment and Skill Enhancement for PWDs

Yinka Olaito, Executive Director of the Centre for Disability and Inclusion Africa, provided an expert perspective on the dismissal of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Osun State, emphasizing the need for transparency and fairness in recruitment processes.

“I have done my findings and discovered that many of those who were sacked did not meet the basic qualifications for the positions they held. Several of them did not pass the entrance exam,” Olaito explained.

While acknowledging the importance of providing reasonable accommodations for PWDs, Olaito stressed that excellence should remain the standard for employment. “If the recruitment process did not make reasonable accommodations for them to pass the exam, then there should be a new, transparent process that can improve their chances. But if the process was not flawed, I believe they should focus on enhancing their personal efficiency.”

He added that organizations like his are ready to support such efforts, noting, “Everyone should be offered opportunities based on their capacity to deliver.”

Osun PWD Chairman Reacts

While reacting to the dismissal of teachers with disabilities by the Osun State government, Stephen Oluwafemi, the state chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), called on the government to prioritize the employment of persons with disabilities in the state.

Oluwafemi expressed concern over the situation, noting that people with disabilities face unique challenges in securing jobs. “We want the governor to not only consider reinstating the sacked teachers but also create more job opportunities for persons with disabilities beyond teaching,” he said. “Other states around us have job quotas for persons with disabilities, and we want the same in Osun. Any job that our people are qualified for should be provided, according to their skills and qualifications.”

He further urged the government to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities, ensuring they have access to gainful employment to improve their quality of life.

Lawmaker Reacts

In an interview with BONews, Hon Adewumi Adeyemi, the legislator representing Obokun Constituency at the Osun State House of Assembly, expressed his commitment to creating employment opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) through the Disability Act that he had proposed. 

He also explained the reasons behind the recent dismissal of teachers, including 61 PWDs.

Adewumi noted that the governor sacked the teachers to ensure a proper recruitment process. “The governor is considerate and lenient. He only sacked the teachers, including the 61 PWDs, to ensure due recruitment processes are followed. The recruitment is ongoing, and anyone qualified will be selected,” he said.

Addressing the Disability Act, which is now law in Osun State, Adewumi explained that it prohibits discrimination against PWDs and mandates a quota for them during government hiring. “This ensures equity, so no one is excluded simply because they live with a disability,” he added.

The law also criminalizes dismissing employees based on disability and provides guidelines to retain workers who become disabled while on the job. “It’s about ensuring that those who can vote and contribute should also benefit from government programs,” Adeyemi emphasized.