Six-Count Petition Trails Rector, Governing Council of ATAP Bauchi as Management Fires Back

From Paul Orude, Bauchi

A formal petition has been submitted to the Bauchi State Government alleging widespread maladministration, corruption, abuse of office and financial recklessness against the Rector of Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAP), Dr. Hashimu Sabo Bello, and the institution’s Governing Council.

Dr Bello denies any financial wrongdoing, alleges trio are on vendetta after being kicked out for corruption

The complaint, dated March 2, 2026, was addressed to the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, by Alkassim Muhammad Esq., a human rights activist and member of the International Bar Association, on behalf of three senior academics and administrators: Dr. Abdulmajid Jamal Abubakar, former Deputy Rector (Quality Assurance); Dr. Alhaji Adamu Sa’idu, former Rector; and Dr. Musa Kallamu Hassan, former General Manager of ATAP Consultancy Ltd.

In the petition, the complainants accused Dr. Bello of multiple infractions during the period he oversaw the institution before his confirmation as substantive Rector.

The allegations include the purported sale of official vehicles, a Lexus 300 Jeep and a Hilux, and their replacement with a Toyota Corolla without proper authorization and beyond his approval limit.

He was also accused of awarding and conducting the bidding process for an ICT Support Programme contract worth N70 million on November 11, 2024, without the involvement of the Governing Council.

The petition further alleged that the Rector exceeded his spending limits and misused Polytechnic funds between July and November 2024, illegally chaired ATAP Consult while excluding the Governing Council’s representative, and spent over N130 million raised by a Registration and Verification Committee without proper authority while serving in an acting capacity.

Other allegations include unauthorized withdrawals from ATAP Consult funds in collaboration with unidentified individuals and claims that his academic qualifications are “in doubt and questionable.”

The petitioners stated that several of the allegations were backed by appended documents, including a previous query reportedly issued to the Rector by a former Governing Council Chairman.

In addition, the petition accused the Governing Council of negligence and failure to discharge its statutory responsibilities under the institution’s enabling law, CAP 113.

Specifically, it alleged that the Council failed to investigate complaints of administrative misconduct against the Rector and the Registrar, Lawal Sambo, since August 2025, and failed to act on claims of sexual harassment involving a close ally of the Rector.

The Council was also accused of allowing certain Heads of Departments and Directors to simultaneously serve at ATAP while on sabbatical at other institutions, allegedly flouting academic and administrative protocols. The petitioners further claimed that some Council members lack the academic qualifications required to effectively manage the Polytechnic.

According to the petitioners, the alleged maladministration has negatively affected the institution’s reputation and growth, with student enrollment reportedly dropping from over 12,000 in previous years to fewer than 4,000 under the current administration.

They described the situation as a serious threat to the institution’s future and called on Governor Bala Mohammed to constitute an independent visitation panel, suspend the Rector, Registrar and Governing Council pending investigation, reconstitute the Council, appoint a qualified replacement for the Rector, and conduct a comprehensive financial audit.

Copies of the petition were also sent to the Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, the Commissioner for Higher Education, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State Council, and the National Human Rights Commission.

Reacting to the allegations, Dr. Bello described the petition as baseless, false and a deliberate attempt by the three former officials to tarnish his reputation and that of the Governing Council.

He stated that Dr. Adamu Sa’idu and Dr. Musa Kallamu Hassan were suspended by the state government and later relieved of their duties over alleged mismanagement of the institution’s resources.

According to the Rector, upon assuming office, he discovered serious irregularities in the management of the Polytechnic’s consultancy services, for which the former General Manager was sanctioned and demoted by two ranks by the Governing Council.

He further alleged that the former Rector had financial cases bordering on mismanagement, including the withdrawal of N10 million and additional administrative charges, as well as over N5 million allegedly withdrawn in the name of a fictitious insurance company.

Dr Bello claimed that audit reports from the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation established the issues and that the matter is before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The rector also alleged that audit findings showed instances of unretired travel expenses during the former administration.

He explained that following disputes involving official correspondences under the previous leadership, the state government suspended the former Rector and directed him, as the most senior Dean at the time, to take over the administration. After six months, he was confirmed as substantive Rector by Governor Bala Mohammed.

The Rector alleged that since his appointment, the former Rector and former General Manager had written multiple petitions against him.

He further claimed that the former General Manager presented a forged approval letter to justify a pilgrimage trip, an act he described as falsification of records. According to him, the matter led to disciplinary recommendations and eventual demotion before the official proceeded to court.

Dr. Bello maintained that if there were issues of financial mismanagement, they predated his administration and were linked to the former leadership.

“As far as I am concerned, I have managed the institution’s limited resources with transparency and accountability,” he said.

As of press time, the Bauchi State Government has not announced whether it will constitute the requested visitation panel, while the matter continues to generate reactions within the academic community in the state.

certificates for over 12 years due to outstanding payments to regulatory bodies such as the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI).

“I pursued the matter and ensured that all outstanding certificates were processed and delivered to the affected graduates,” he said.

According to him, several academic programmes had also lost accreditation before he assumed office.

“Our accreditations had lapsed, but with the little resources available, we were able to secure reaccreditation,” he explained.

The Rector further stressed that he met serious irregularities in the Polytechnic’s consultancy unit led to the former General Manager, Dr. Musa Kallamu Hassan, being sanctioned and demoted by two ranks by the Governing Council following disciplinary findings.

He also alleged that there were financial issues under the previous administration of Dr. Alhaji Adamu Sa’idu, former Rector that bordered on recklessness, insisting that the current management has focused on restoring accountability and institutional stability.