The Delta State Maritime Polytechnic, Burutu, has been thrown into controversy following weighty allegations of financial misappropriation, gross misconduct, and abuse of office by some top management staff of the institution.
The allegations were contained in a press statement issued on September 10, 2025, by Engr. Ologe Solomon, a Principal Lecturer at the Polytechnic and member of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).
Allegations of Diversion and Misuse of Funds
According to Ologe, who claimed he had filed multiple petitions with oversight bodies since 2024, over ₦774 million in public funds have allegedly been diverted or mismanaged by key officials of the Polytechnic. Those named include the Rector, Prof. James Okoro; Registrar, Mr. Churchill Ufuoma Ighovojah; Bursar, Mr. Ogodobiri Jonatus; Head of Salary Unit, Mrs. Dora Okpegho; ASUP Chapter Chairman, Dr. Bayai Sunny; and Senior Lecturer, Mr. Akporer Lucky Oghenerovwe.
Among the allegations listed in his statement were:
- ₦374 million meant for academic staff disparity allowance arrears allegedly diverted, leaving many lecturers underpaid or completely unpaid.
- ₦400 million in accreditation grants allegedly misappropriated without visible improvements to academic programmes or infrastructure.
- ₦9.3 million allegedly routed through ASUP accounts and funneled into private individuals’ bank accounts.
- ₦12.5 million in convocation funds reportedly unaccounted for.
- Diversion of student fees into personal bank accounts.
- Irregular contracts worth millions allegedly awarded to relatives of management staff, including a company owned by the Rector’s wife and another linked to a relative of the Bursar.
- 20% “illegal deduction” from peculiar allowances owed to academic staff.
- Non-remittance of statutory deductions in 2025 despite continuous salary withholdings.
Cover-Up Alleged
Ologe further accused the Polytechnic’s Governing Council of shielding the management through what he described as a “whitewashed” internal disciplinary report. He also alleged that the ASUP leadership in the South-South zone has remained silent despite evidence suggesting that union accounts were used in laundering public funds.
He claimed to have faced retaliation, victimization, and threats to his life, lamenting that the Nigeria Police (Zone 5, Benin City) failed to act on formal reports he filed in April 2025.
Management Denies Allegations
When contacted, the Rector, Prof. James Okoro, strongly refuted the allegations, dismissing them as baseless and the handiwork of detractors.
In separate telephone conversations, the Registrar, Mr. Churchill Ighovojah, and the Head of Salary Unit, Mrs. Dora Okpegho, also denied the claims, insisting that Ologe fabricated the allegations because he had been directed to return to Nigeria after the expiration of his study leave abroad.
Calls for Investigation
While the Polytechnic is yet to issue an official statement, calls have intensified for an independent probe. Stakeholders are urging the Delta State Government, under Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, alongside relevant anti-corruption and educational oversight bodies, to set up a panel of inquiry into the matter.
Observers note that a thorough and transparent investigation would not only help restore confidence in the institution but also safeguard public funds and protect the interest of students, staff, and the wider Delta community.
