Minister of Education, Mr. Adamu Adamu,

The Police and authorities of Federal College of Education (FCE), Zaria, have commenced investigation into how the registration fees paid by 1, 128 students through banks was not credited into the institution’s account.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that more than N26 million paid by the students in some banks in Zaria were not credited.

A cross section of the affected students, who pleaded anonymity, believed that it was an organised fraud perpetrated by staff of a first generation bank and the institution.

“I personally paid my money in the bank’s main branch in Sabongari, but to my greatest dismay, they said my money did not drop into the FCE account.

“As I am talking to you now, my name is not captured as a registered students and I am not the only person affected.

“Over 1,000 students are now facing similar problem, and all categories of students are affected,” the student said.

Another student said he also paid through the same bank, adding, “I have the payment teller and the registration slip with me, however, they said I have not registered.”

According to him, a large number of the affected students have been left stranded.

The Registrar of the college, Dr Jibril Lawal confirmed the incident, but debunked alleged connivance of the management in the registration scandal.

“The management had constituted a committee under the chairmanship of the College Bursar, Mohammed Sani-Uwais, to thoroughly investigate the mater and report back to the management.”

On his part, the committee chairman said payment made by 1, 128 students was not credited into the institution’s TSA account.

He added that 82 other students also had irregular records of payment.

Sani-Uwais said 99 per cent of the victims paid their money through the first generation bank located in Sabongari area of Zaria city.

“This is a serious issue, as such, we reported the case to the police and police advised us to come back and set up an investigation committee to investigate the matter, which we did.

“We have gone a long way in discharging our responsibilities.

“When a student appear before us, we ask him how did you make the payment, whom did you pay to, can you identify him?

“We want to establish where the problem is and also who and who are involved in the shoddy deal and report back to the management for further action,” the bursar said.

Sani-Uwais alleged that an attempt had been made on his life as a result of the investigation.

Officials of the affected bank did not respond to inquiries on the matter, but a reliable source informed NAN that the major suspect had resigned before the case became public.

The spokesperson of Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Aliyu Usman confirmed that the case was reported to Zaria Area Command and investigation into the matter had begun.

“One of the prime suspects had been arrested and investigation is still ongoing.” (NAN)