The Congress of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council – the apex decision making organ of the Union in the State, has slammed indefinite suspension on the State Secretary, Comrade Victor Sorokwu.
Comrade Sorokwu was suspended after a vote of no confidence was passed on him during the Congress on Tuesday 29th July, 2025, on the grounds of gross misconduct amounting to financial impropriety, high-handedness, unethical conducts and debasing of the Union’s professional status.
The suspension was anchored on a motion earlier moved by Comrade Dominic Adewole, former Chairman of Asaba Correspondent’s Chapel and seconded by Comrade Akpokona Omafuaire, former Chairman of Warri Correspondents’ Chapel who respectively passed a vote of no confidence on the recalcitrant Secretary, and vehemently called for his impeachment.
He was therefore suspended indefinitely through an amended motion by Comrade Prince Pere Botu, Chairman of DBS Asaba Chapel and seconded by Comrade Fred Oduh, Editor of the Gallant Reporters Online Publication, which the Congress overwhelmingly supported based on the fact that the very corrupt Secretary had been tolerated for too long.
It could be recalled that the Press Centre (Secretariat) vendor, Mr. Benedict Obiokolie had written a petition to the State Working Committee through the Chairman Comrade Churchill Oyowe, categorically stating the unwholesome practices of the Secretary who had continued to breach the contract he entered into for the commercial management of the Secretariat for which he had paid the Union up front. However, the Secretary had continued to receive monies meant for the vendor and diverting same for personal use without the vendor’s knowledge nor that of the Union, and when asked, had continued to claim authority over the property as Secretary.
Meanwhile, there had been several petitions in the past against this same embattled Secretary. The National Secretariat of NUJ did set up a Committee to probe the Secretary and the Chairman few months ago, where the Probe Panel completed its task with a recommendation of six months suspension against the duo, but unfortunately, members of NEC at the point of ratification, reduced their penalty to just an apology to the petitioners and those offended by their criminally inclined actions.