Business
LASPOTECH Crisis Update Rector Boast;”Nobody Can Remove Me, I Have the Backing of Tinubu and Akiolu”
+ Many Financial Improprieties Leveled against him
…Save us from His Clutches: Staffs Appeal to Tinubu and Akiolu
There seems to be no visible end in sight to the current crisis bedeviling the Lagos State Polytechnic, it will be recalled that the staffs of the institution has for months now been at loggerhead with the rector of the Lagos State owned institution over issues that allegedly has to do with terrible administration of Mr. OluyinkaSogunro, led school authority.
Sources within the school recently informed us that the Rector, who is having several allegation of financial improprieties leveled against him is recently in boastful mood, according to this source, Mr, Sogunro is allegedly telling whoever cares to hear that nothing will move him from his position because he’s having the backing of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Oba of Lagos.
He was also alleged to have openly declared that he’s untouchable for Gov. AkinwunmiAmbode or any members of the State Assembly.
It will be recalled that the whole thing became public knowledge months back immediately after the convocation of the school attended by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. AkinwumiAmbode, that the staffs decided to down tools for a couple of weeks after which they called it off for 21days to allow negotiation after days of protest by the 3 association in the institution on the premises of the governor’s office.
Effort by the leadership of NASU, SSANIP and ASUPin the institution to also make the legislative arm intervene in the whole situation is also not yielding any effort as the appearance of the bodies before the House committee of Education did not seems to be yielding any fruits, it was even after this that he allegedly boasted publicly that he’s untouchable because of his relationship with former Lagos Governor, Bola Tinubu and Eleko of Eko, Oba RilwanAkiolu.
The staff had in an earlier letter sent to the Governor of Lagos State, pleaded that he quickly intervene, investigate and liberate the staff , pensioners and students of Lagos State Polytechnic from constant security harassments at the instance of the rector, MrOluyinka Samuel Sogunro.
In the letter dated June 9, 2017, the rector was accused of harassing the staff and students with both internal and external security organizations. The letter reads “The staff and students have been at the mercy of the gun-toting security guards since the current administration assumed office. Students are always escorted out of the campuses with guns and siren like common criminals and equally molested in the name of dress code meant for adults of a tertiary institution ages.”
It reads further that “on Tuesday, 8th November, 2016 when the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) was having a meeting with Governing Council on the implementation of CONTISS 15 Migration,, the rector ordered the Onyabo Vigilante group and a dispatched of a police van to swoop on the staff inside the Ikorodu campus, owing to what the rector termed as ‘unruly behavior’ of his staff. The confrontation was so fierce that it took the intervention of well-meaning senior staff to avert bloodshed.
‘Subsequently, the militarization of the campuses received a boost when the rector approved the purchase of fifteen (15) magnum series of semi-automatic pump action guns through the BLACK MARKET to the tune of Six Million , Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand naira (N6, 450, 000) in addition to the 25 pieces of existing guns on campus, and also recruited OPC members and many other untrained hands to carry arms on the campuses.
‘This singular action increased panic and defiance actions amongst the staff and students. It is however sad to know that, an institution that could not afford to buy consumables for students’ practical across departments , expended a whooping N6,450,000 on unlicensed guns to ‘terrorize’ its staff and students from the students’ acceptance levy. These guns were later discovered from a grapevine to have been bought by the Deputy Rector (Administration) – Dr. Ola Olateju.
In the wake of the industrial face-off between the Management and the labour Unions, the rector was accused of setting the staffs of the institution up when he allegedly called the men of the Department of State Security (DSS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on the Non Academic Staff Union Executives under the guise that he was going to be kidnapped. The statement read“Sogunro robed his staff members with kidnapping and attempted murder cases and walks freely touting his regular threat- “if you stand on my way, I will crush you.”
He was also accused of setting the soldiers from 174 battalion, Odogunyan on the staffs and the students on Wednesday 7th June during a peaceful protest of the continuous closure of the school and the highhandedness of the rector. Though the school claimed the soldiers were trying to pass through the school premises to their destination since the road is bad, the soldiers however stated that they were invited by the school management.
In the letter the unions speak against the decision of the management expending so much on guns as against educational material. “To this end, we condemn in totality the preference for illegal acquisition of guns to meaningful academic needs, naked display of arms on our campuses, brazen and flagrant use of military force to evacuate the students from campuses daily, harassment by both the internal and external security agents, militarization/invasion of our campuses and despotic style of leadership of the rector.
‘We call on the Governor to investigate all these aforementioned security breaches, especially the ruthless and bestial invasion of Wednesday, 7th that led to infliction of pains, brutality, wanton destruction of properties, disruption of business activities of Lambo Lasunwon community, molestation of innocent students and staff in their hostels and homes, etc.”
They also pray that the government should intervene in the whole issue, “Sanctions should be appropriately meted out to anybody found culpable to avoid the reoccurrence of such undemocratic act in future and serve as a deterrent to undemocratic tendencies.” The letter concluded.
Members of staff of Lagos State polytechnic are of the opinion that even with Sogunro’s closeness claims to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) National Leader, his ways are showing trait contrary to the believe and ways of the distinguished individual, they are therefore pleading that Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu should come to their aid and save them from further brutalization from the power drunk rector.
However, a detailed list of atrocities committed by Mr. Samuel OlayinkaSogunro, the Lagos State Polytechnic embattled rector has been released in a statement jointly signed by the three unions in the institution, NASU, SSANIP and ASUP and it includes;
- Placement of Polytechnic N1.3 Billion Naira in First City MonumentBank Plc
It is pertinent to inform the concern authority that, the Rector, Mr. SamuelOluyinkaSogunro placed N1.3 Billion Naira of the Polytechnic fund with FirstCity Monument Bank Plc. without obtaining approval from the GoverningCouncil or the State Government at a ridiculous interest rate lower than whatis obtain in the other banks.
It is disheartening that while the Pensioners are being owed 13 monthsallowances, their hard earn pay was yielding interest for the Rector atundisclosed interest rate.
- Deduction 10% Processing Fee by the Rector
Under the administration of Mr. Samuel OluyinkaSogunro, beneficiaries of TETFUND most agree to pay 10% processing fee to the Desk Officer, Dr. Kareem Rasaq before the releasing of fund and the Rector is in the know.
It should be noted that the Desk Officer, claimed that 10% processing fee deduction was a directive from TETFUND Headquarters. Majority of staff members that access the fund for Seminars/Conferences claimed that they were unable to attend because this deduction adversely affected their travelling and accommodation allowances.
Also, mostly research projects where abandoned, because the team members do not approve the deductions.
- Violation of Financial Regulation during the 2017 Convocation
The concern authority should please endeavour to set up a special investigation panel to look into the money expended during the 2017 convocation of the Polytechnic. It was discovered that a whooping sum of N40Million (Forty million Naira) was released as “Cash Advance” by the Rector during the period in question.
- Fraudulent Employment
It will interest you to know that two of the newly employed staff in the Department of Mathematics namely: Ajilore Joshua GL13 (Community Secondary School, Ojo) and Akinyemi Joseph GL12 (Both Classroom Teacher) are still in the service of Lagos State Ministry Education, kindly please consult oracle for details.
- Sweeping of Report of Investigation into Financial Misconduct in the Polytechnic Staff School Involving A Deputy Registrar Under theCarpet
The Rector, Mr. Samuel OluyinkaSogunro is managing the administration of the Polytechnic with an act of Nepotism.
The Concern Authority equally need to investigate why the report of a petition tagged “Save LASPOTECH Staff School from the brim of Collapse” involving a Deputy Registrar, Mr. Isaac OluwaseunAdekoya, a member of the same church with the Rector, was sweep under the carpet. (See Attached Comprehensive Report signed by the Deputy Rector, Admin)
- Investigating the Employment Status of the Deputy Rector (Admin.)Dr. OlatunjiAgboolaOlateju in Relationship with SwanseaUniversity, United Kingdom
The concern authority should also set up a special investigation panel to look into the employment status of the Deputy Rector (Admin.) Dr. OlatunjiAgboolaOlateju.
Dr. OlatunjiAgboolaOlateju joined the services of the Polytechnic in May 1998 as a Lecturer II, and left for United Kingdom for a PHD programme in 2008 where he was until his appointment as a Deputy Rector (Admin).
Dr. Olateju is in full time employment with Swansea University, United Kingdom and from his Curriculum Vitae he is a visiting Lecturer with Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, Lagos-Nigeria (Confirmation can be source from Swansea University, through British Council).
It is pertinent to note that, since Dr. Olateju assumed office as the Deputy Rector (Admin), he has spent most of his period in United Kingdom, claiming that he is on visit to his family (Request his International Passport).
It is equally important to inform the concern authority that Dr. Olateju is a full time Politician; he is currently the National Organising Secretary of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) which is against the rule guiding the public servant.
Dr. Olateju abandoned his duty post between December 2016 and April 2017 to attend to his “Primary” assignment in Swansea University, United Kingdom. The job he so much cherish as to absent himself from attending the last Convocation Ceremony of the Polytechnic which we have in attendance His Excellence, The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. AkinwunmiAmbode.
- Other Pressing Issues not Mentioned above includes :
- Setting standard for academic : Lack of Consumables, Power, Academic Allowances, internet facilities, Decay in Infrastructures etc
- Review and application of condition of service without due diligence eg. Selection of Dean, Directors, Wardrobe Allowance to Principal Officer
- Delay in remittance of pension contribution
- Security breaches and intimidation of staff of the Polytechnic
- Removal of 4% pension annuity
- Flagrant Usurpation of Governing Council Power
- Connivance with Mr. Sutton, Director Higher Education, OSAE to commit forgery of letters said to have emanated from the Special Adviser on Education
- Staff Bonding and promotion on study leave contrary to global best practices.
- Bullying and threatening of students and staff by the Rector and his cohorts.
- Arbitrary increment in salary and allowances of Bursar, Registrar and Polytechnic Librarian
- Usurpation and outright threatening of the Audit Unit by the Rector and his cohorts
- Bypassing the Governing Council for approval by the SAE
- Fractionalizing of staff, destroying trust and encouraging academics ineptitude.
Documents below:
NNPCL and Corruption’s Final Throes
By Pius Olasanmi
In the twilight of the Obasanjo administration, when Nigerians were still capable of being outraged, when Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of refineries was a buzzword that still held some mysticism to bamboozle citizens, during a conversation, a certain man said something profound. The man said, “As a businessman, if I were the owner of these refineries, knowing that they are three decades old, I would take the last money I have, hire bulldozers, raze them to the ground, and obtain loans to build new ones.”
When we pressed him further on why he would engage in such waste, he explained that repairing the refineries is the real waste. He explained that even if the TAM were honestly carried out, a thirty-year-old refinery would never compete favourably with a new one that would integrate contemporary technology. Operating at its best, such a refinery would never be comparatively more efficient. It is therefore pointless to have spent another one naira on the refineries at that point.
A few months later, I had a conversation with a then-lawmaker on an entirely different matter. I mentioned that the National Assembly has failed by not crafting legislation that would criminalise and punish public office holders who foist wrong decisions on the country. The logic: a public office holder need not steal to be punished, wrong decisions should attract penalties for an office holder who opts for the worst of all options when there are less injurious ones.
These established premises speak to the ongoing nauseating efforts at revisionism by those who wrecked the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its previous iteration, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Notably, this campaign to rewrite history is traceable to Engineer Mele Kolo Kyari, the disgraced immediate past Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL and his hirelings. They have suffocated the news and the public opinion space with even more lies than they spun while in office.
The Saint Kyari campaign is anchored on convincing Nigerians that the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna Refineries were fully functional when he was booted out of office. So brazen is the campaign that one of its talking heads challenged the group chief executive officer (GCEO), Engr. Bayo Ojulari, to “inform Nigerians categorically what happened to the functioning refineries he inherited from his predecessor, Engr. Mele Kyari.” The effrontery.
We have not forgotten so soon the charade that followed the baffling claim that Nigeria has spent $2.8 billion on the repair of the refineries, while they are not churning out even a single litre of refined product among them. Saint Kyari and his goons played all manner of tricks, all of which embarrassed President Bola Tinubu, who had counted on ticking off the return to productivity of the refineries as part of his achievements, only to realise that he was deceived into celebrating phantoms. Tragic.
Lest we forget, 200 trucks were arranged as props in a well-directed video clip to celebrate the re-streaming of the Port Harcourt Refinery. The disappointment. Nigerians were to learn from several reports that the Port Harcourt refinery was not producing and was instead using old, stored petroleum products to load trucks. Worse still, the Kyari crew was passing off sanction-tainted Russian-sourced crude oil refined in Malta as locally refined products. More insult was piled on the assault on our collective sensibility with the lies that the Port Harcourt Refinery exported semi-finished products. Brazen.
Meanwhile, Kyari and his hirelings called those who pointed out or protested these glaring scams all manner of names. They hid behind industry technicalities and jargon to create the impression that those of us who knew Nigerians were being robbed did not understand what we were saying. The point remains that a $2.8 billion investment can potentially build a refinery with a capacity of around 100,000 barrels per day (bpd). Of course, the actual capacity of such a refinery will depend on various factors, including the complexity of the refinery, the technology used, and the location. That is the amount that Kyari’s regime at the NNPCL took and did not give Nigerians refined products.
Fast forward to Kyari’s sack and the appointment of Engineer Bayo Ojulari, who has demonstrated that things can indeed be done differently. Kyari’s exit was expectedly followed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) going after him and his associates. The extent of the theft is better understood against the backdrop of N80 billion being found in the bank account of one of his associates. They went on the run.
Perhaps because the EFCC was biding its time on securing international warrants for the arrests of these characters on the lam, they have become emboldened. They have decided to fight back and rewrite the story of their participation in the greatest fraud against Nigerians. Engineer Ojulari’s renewed mindset, which is entrenching a semblance of the transparency Nigerians demand, became their natural target. The demons that once roamed around the corporation came out with malevolence. They started spinning stories of corruption to tarnish the incumbent who refused to hide their crimes. The objective: bring Ojulari down. But alas, he is winning the war as it stands.
His innocence is proven, and it is glaring that those who want him out are mere charlatans who can no longer ply their corrupt wares because of the impact of the new reforms. Corruption in the NNPCL is in its final throes. The fake news being unleashed against the incumbent leadership is akin to corruption’s last kicks as reforms in the sector strangulate it and its practitioners. The reforms must take place in the NNPCL, whether the industry demons like it or not.
As a parting shot, Kyari and his associates would do well to prepare their defence. In addition to accounting for the $2.8 billion they laundered in the name of repairing the moribund refineries, they must also answer for the poor decision to fix that which is irretrievably broken. Awarding contracts for Turn Around Maintenance of 59-year-old refineries that a right-thinking person had suggested should be demolished almost twenty years ago, when they were only 30 years old, is criminal. Trying to deceive Nigerians that the fake repairs worked is treason.
Olasanmi is a public affairs analyst writing from Lagos.
GRANDIS 5STAR LUXURY APARTMENT & SUITES SET TO REDEFINE LIVING IN VICTORIA ISLAND
Set to Rise elegantly against the Lagos skyline, is the Grandis 5Star Luxury Apartment & Suites. According to Adejuwon Ademola, The General Manager of the Development company, it is more than just a residential building
“it’s a lifestyle statement. Standing 17 floors high in the heart of Victoria Island, this revolutionary masterpiece of modern architecture will offer a panoramic 360° view of Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island, and Ikoyi, transforming every apartment into an exclusive penthouse experience for the world’s most discerning elite.”
Developed by Dumarco Construction Limited, a globally acclaimed company with decades of delivering complex, high-value projects in the highly regulated petroleum, oil, and gas industries, Grandis 5Star brings unmatched international safety standards, uncompromising quality, and timeless elegance into Nigeria’s luxury property market.
> “When you live in Grandis, you’re not just buying a home—you’re investing in peace of mind, world-class safety, and an effortless luxury experience that will remain pristine for decades,” says Adejuwon A. Ademola, General Manager of Dumarco Construction Limited.
The Gold Standard in Safety and Quality
Dumarco’s roots in the oil and gas sector mean the company operates to some of the strictest safety protocols in the world. Every stage—from conceptualization, design, construction, to long-term maintenance—follows internationally accepted procedures and quality assurance measures. Cutting corners is simply not in Dumarco’s vocabulary.
> “In the oil and gas industry, there’s no room for compromise. We’ve brought that same discipline and zero-tolerance for mediocrity into property development,” says Ademola. “That’s why Grandis will be one of the safest and most enduring residential developments in Nigeria.”
To ensure transparency and prevent (project complacency), Dumarco deliberately separates the developer, contractor, and consultant roles, engaging only the most competent professionals in each respective field. Dumarco’s project team includes globally recognized contractors such as Julius Berger, Cappa & D’Alberto, and Elalan, Migliore Construczione & Tecniche (MC&T) and their partners VENCO IMTIAZ CONTRACTING COMPANY (VICC) based in Dubai, UAE, Business Contracting Limited, alongside leading consultants like Morgan Omanitan & Abe, LAMBERT, and James Cubitt.
Grandis – Investments, appreciation, returns and profitability
Our selection process for the location of the project alone was pains-taking and completely thorough scientific process. Top professional companies were employed to conduct a scientific data acquisition and analytical survey of the entire Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki and Eko Atlantic before a project site is selected. Analyzing and acquiring areas developmental charts and trends, studying and gathering historical and present sale prices, rental charge and occupancy rates over a 50 year period from every individual street before the selection of the location of any of our developments especially true for the Grandis Project
He adds,
“Our clients and residents can be rest assured that the location of Grandis has been scientifically proven through all existing data to provide our clients with a 100% occupancy rate, highest developmental location, highest rental income and investment returns. ”
The Grandis Experience
Located minutes away from international corporate headquarters, embassies, and landmarks such as Eko Hotel, Radisson Blu, and the Radisson Red, Grandis offers unmatched convenience for professionals, diplomats, and high-net-worth individuals. Every residence is designed for both indulgence and efficiency, with high-grade finishes, smart-home systems, and private amenities that ensure seamless living.
From sunrise over the Atlantic to the glittering Lagos night skyline, residents will enjoy uninterrupted luxury, supported by discreet and highly trained staff, advanced security systems, and a design that prioritizes comfort and privacy.
> “We designed Grandis for people who want everything—security, elegance, convenience, and the assurance that their home will look as spectacular in 20 years as it does on day one,” Ademola notes.
A Legacy That Lasts
With its combination of visionary architecture, peerless safety, and meticulous maintenance planning, Grandis is built to remain iconic for generations. Thanks to Dumarco’s meticulous approach, the building’s service charges are expected to remain low while its value and appeal continue to appreciate over time.
In a market often marred by shortcuts and substandard practices, Mr Ademola says
Grandis stands as a beacon of what luxury living should be—safe, spectacular, and built to last.
“Grandis 5Star Luxury Apartment & Suites — Where safety meets sophistication, and every detail is designed for a life well-lived.”
He added
Website -www.dumarcoltd.com
Project website – www.26idowutaylor.com
Email [email protected]
Tel / WhatsApp +234 9077777883
GM – Adejuwon A. Ademola
celebrity radar - gossips
Nationwide Talent, One Broadcaster: Tinubu Picks Pedro, Bello, Din, Mohammed to Lead NTA
Tinubu Overhauls NTA Leadership: Media Powerhouse Rotimi Pedro Takes Helm as DG
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced a major shake-up at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), appointing renowned media executive Rotimi Richard Pedro as the new Director-General in a move widely seen as a bold step toward modernising the state broadcaster.
Pedro, a Lagos native, brings nearly 30 years of expertise in broadcasting, sports rights, and marketing communications across Africa, the UK, and the Middle East. A trained entertainment and intellectual property lawyer, he also holds an MSc in Investment Management and Finance from City University Business School, London.
In 1995, Pedro founded Optima Sports Management International (OSMI), which rose to become one of Africa’s leading sports content providers—distributing premium events such as the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup, and CAF competitions to audiences in over 40 countries.
His career highlights include top roles at Bloomberg Television Africa and Rapid Blue Format, as well as advisory work for FIFA, UEFA, Fremantle Media, and the African Union of Broadcasters (AUB). At the AUB, he was instrumental in securing exclusive pan-African free-to-air media rights for all CAF competitions.
Alongside Pedro’s appointment, Tinubu named Karimah Bello from Katsina State as Executive Director of Marketing, Stella Din from Plateau State as Executive Director of News, and Sophia Issa Mohammed from Adamawa State as Managing Director of NTA Enterprises Limited.
Industry insiders credit Pedro with building commercially viable broadcast platforms, driving sponsorship growth, and delivering world-class content to African audiences. His appointment marks one of the most significant leadership changes at NTA in years—signalling the government’s intent to strengthen the broadcaster’s competitiveness in a fast-evolving media landscape.
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