Bauchi State government owned Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAP) says it has engaged the services of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to check the disturbing practice of forgery of the institution’s certificates.

Mr Abdullahi Adamu, Registrar of the institution, Mr Abdullahi Adamu, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Monday.

“As part of our effort to curtail the menace of forgery and usage of our institution’s certificate, we have constituted a high-powered committee to investigate the institution to reveal both the internal and external forces perpetrating this crime.

“I’m glad to let you know that as we speak, a preliminary report had been submitted to the management and we employed the services of security outfits such as ICPC and NSCDC to help in investigating the matter.

“Thankfully, they were able to make few arrests; at least two or three people have been arrested and very soon, they will be paraded before the public,” he disclosed.

NAN recalls that the Bauchi State Police command had on July 24, paraded some suspects in possession of fake certificates of the institution.

“I heard of the parade of some suspects in possession of fake certificates of our institution over the radio.

“I want to assure you that the institution, under the leadership of our rector, Dr Suleiman Lame, has taken measures to curtail forgery of our  certificates by men of the underworld,” he said.

Adamu also said in order to distinguish a genuine from fake certificate of the institution, they would soon resort to  the use of a watermark stamp method of identification.

“I want to tell you that, apart from collaborating with some security agency to curtail this menace, we also have a way of identifying our certificates.

“One of the methods is through the introduction of watermark technology.

“We now have a high-tech device; a software we will soon deploy to put this problem of forgery to rest forever, and only stakeholders will have access to it.

“I believe before the end of August, we will sign the Memorandum of Understanding; I assure you that immediately the MoU is signed, the software will be deployed effectively,” he said.

Adamu also said in order to checkmate the fake certificates already in circulation, the Management had communicated to employers and institutions alike, through the mass media, to always send in for verification, all certificates of ATAP presented to them.