The recent reports linking a young man discovered dead in Emure-Ile, Owo Local Government Area, to Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), have been refuted by the institution’s management.
An official statement released on Thursday by Olumide Olugosi, the Senior Assistant Registrar for Public Relations and Protocol, clarified that the deceased, Audi Emmanuel, was never enrolled at the polytechnic, contrary to earlier media claims.
The management expressed condolences to the family of the deceased but stressed the importance of correcting inaccurate information circulating in the public domain.
It was further revealed that after a thorough check of academic records, no student with the name Audi Emmanuel was found in any department, including Computer Engineering Technology and the Continuing Education Centre. Although a person with a similar name, Audu Emmanuel, was offered admission into the Computer Science National Diploma program for the 2024/2025 session, the individual did not complete the admission process or take any examinations, and therefore cannot be considered a registered student.
The institution urged media practitioners and the public to verify facts before publishing sensitive information, especially when it involves identity issues. The management also reiterated its sympathy for the bereaved family while distancing itself from the erroneous reports.