In what looks like a sheer show of incompetence and poor records keeping, the management of Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic in Bauchi State, contradicted itself after denying one of its alumni, Bala Rabilu Kashuri, who is in court with his political rivals.
Kashuri, a lawmaker of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was elected in the last election to represent Jama’are/Itas Federal Constituency in the 10th National Assembly.
FACT-CHECK: Bauchi Gov Lied About State’s WAEC Performance, Out-of-School Children
But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), approached the election tribunal in Bauchi State to challenge his victory. The aggrieved party questioned the authenticity of the academic certificate Kashuri holds.
THE DENIAL
At the peak of the political tussle, the institution wrote a letter to Annur Chambers, a Bauchi-based legal firm fronting for PDP at the tribunal, saying Kashuri was not an alumnus of the school.
The letter was in response to an inquiry earlier sent by the legal firm.
The Head of Exams and Records of the polytechnic, Kabir Inuwa Bakaro, had on March 23, written to the law firm, contending claims made by Kashuri that he attended the institution and had a diploma in Public Administration in 2002.
He added that the institution has not found his name on its records.
“Refer to your letter dated 13 March, 2023 on the above subject matter,” the letter notes, adding: “Records available with the polytechnic therein do not have Bala Rabilu Kashuri as a graduate of Diploma in Public Administration in the year 2002.”
BAKARO MADE U-TURN
Stunningly, the polytechnic wrote another letter emphasising that Kashuri had attended the institution and that the academy credentials held by him were genuine and authentic.
This was contained in another letter dated April 17 wherein the head of exams and records, Bakaro, arrested that the embattled lawmaker indeed was a student of the school.
He said Kashuri attended the institution from 2000-2002. He also indicated his registration number, stating that other credentials issued to him from the institution are genuine and authentic.
“The above-named institution hereby writes to attest that the bearer, Bala Rabilu Kashuri with Reg. no: 2000/2103 was a student of the polytechnic from 2000-2002,” Bakaro wrote “However, the certificate and the transcript issued to him are both genuine and authentic.”
As Banditry Nears Niger State Capital, Emirate Suspends Sallah Durbar
“For further inquiries, you can contact the Registrar’s office please,” he added.
THE CONTRADICTION
In contrast to the two letters, the institution’s Register Abdullahi Alh. Adamu wrote another letter, insisting the embattled lawmaker was not a student of the school.
The letter dated April 20 was titled: ‘RE-VERIFICATION OF CERTIFICATE AND TRANSCRIPT OF ACADEMIC RECORDS OF BALA RABILU KASHURI.’
His words: “The polytechnic wish to reemphasize that upon careful perusal of our records, the Institution still maintains that it does not have Bala Rabilu Kashuri as shown on the certificate and on the letters dated 30th March, 2023 and 17” April, 2023.
“In the circumstance therefore, the certificate and the academic transcript under reference are hereby discountenanced since they did not emanate from any directive(s) in the Institution.
Students of Incarcerated Bauchi Cleric Deny Threatening Govt
“This letter, therefore, supersedes any other correspondences issued earlier.”
WikkiTimes could not immediately ascertain whether the college management was coerced to counter its stand. But in a swift intervention, the trio of the school’s Rector, Registrar and Head of Exams and Records were suspended by the Bauchi State Government.
When WikkiTimes contacted the school’s Public Relations Officer, Bappa Baraya, he declined to comment.
Baraya told our reporter he was driving. Further attempts to reach him proved abortive as he refused to respond to calls. A Short Message Service (SMS) sent to him requesting further details was ignored.
When contacted, Kashuri said he is currently in Saudi Arabia observing this year’s Hajj but will speak on the matter when he returns to Nigeria. Although, he believes the school was forced to deny him.
“Am currently in Saudi Arabia but I will talk when I returned. It is clear to me that the institution is forced to retract its statement but I will talk about it after my return from Hajj,” said Kashuri.
