Authorities of the Federal Polytechnic, Ekeowei, Bayelsa State, have debunked allegations that its Rector, Dr. Ineye Ekpebu was linked with the assassination of a member of statf of the institution, Frank Moses.
The Head of Public Relations of the Polytechnic, Mr. Okpoitari Diongoli, who spoke to our correspondent in an exclusive interview in Yenagoa, said it was unfair and mischievous to link the Rector with the murder of the 35 year old staff. Diongoli also dismissed reports that the Rector was arrested by the Police in connection with Moses' death, saying it wasn't true.
Rather, the Head of Public Relations said the Rector was invited by the Police command to give clarification on the murder of the staff, just as he described the staff 's death as painful. Moses was allegedly assassinated by yet to be identified gun men near his residence on November 8 at Agudama Epie in Yenagoa.
Police sources confirmed that two staff of the institution allegedly linked with the killing of Moses were in their custody as investigation continues.
He said: "The Police Public Relations Officer in the state has issued a statement that the Rector was not arrested, but, invited to come and clarify some issues. He was invited to comment on the incident. Petitions have been written; he needed as the Head of the Institution to explain what happened. You are aware that the Non Academic Senior Staff union has factions. They have issues.
The Police were right to have invited him and he was duty bound to go and explain management side of the story. "To link the Rector to the killing of Frank Moses a staff of the institution, something that occurred out of the campus is not correct. Anything could happen to anybody outside the campus.
I don't think it is fair for people to link it to the Rector; maybe the Rector has a hand in it. It is not correct, it is not fair, I will say it is mischievous. It has some political undertone for anybody to link the killing of his staff outside the Polytechnic community.
The Police are on top of the issue right now, they are investigating the matter. Let's wait for the outcome of the Police investigation," Diongoli explained. Commenting on the N1 billion allegedly embezzlement by the Rector, Diongoli said the allegation was false and misleading, stressing that external auditors had audited the financial transactions of the Polytechnic and gave it a clean bill of health.
He said: I'm aware that external auditors came and audited the account of the institution for 2012.