The Delta State Maritime Polytechnic, Burutu, has come under intense scrutiny following allegations of financial misappropriation, gross misconduct, and abuse of office against top management staff.
The allegations were contained in a press statement issued on September 10, 2025, by Engr. Solomon Ologe, a Principal Lecturer at the Polytechnic and a member of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).
According to Mr Ologe who claimed to have filed petitions with various oversight bodies since 2024, over ₦774 million in public funds have been allegedly diverted or misused by key officials of the Polytechnic including the Rector, Prof. James Okoro, the Registrar, Mr. Churchill Ufuoma Ighovojah, the Bursar, Mr. Ogodobiri Jonatus, the Head of Salary Unit, Mrs. Dora Okpegho, the ASUP Chapter Chairman, Dr. Bayai Sunny and a Senior Lecturer in the institution, Mr. Akporer Lucky Oghenerovwe.
Some of the allegations as contained in the statement include; “₦374 million meant for academic staff disparity allowance arrears allegedly diverted, leaving many lecturers underpaid or completely unpaid. ₦400 million in accreditation grants were misappropriated without visible improvements to academic programs or infrastructure. ₦9.3 million allegedly routed through ASUP accounts and funneled into private individuals’ bank accounts”.
“₦12.5 million in convocation funds remains unaccounted for. Diversion of student fees into personal bank accounts. Irregular contracts worth millions were allegedly awarded to relatives of management staff, including a company owned by the Rector’s wife and a junior staff member related to the Bursar.
20% illegal deduction from peculiar allowance owed to academic staff. Non-remittance of statutory deductions despite continuous salary withholdings in 2025,” he stated
Ologe, who accused the Polytechnic’s Governing Council of covering up the corruption through a “whitewashed” internal report by a disciplinary committee, also alleged that the ASUP leadership in the South-South zone has remained silent, even after evidence showed that union accounts were used in laundering public funds.
He further claimed to have suffered retaliation, victimisation, and threats to his life, citing the lack of action by the Nigeria Police (Zone 5, Benin City) despite formal reports filed in April 2025.
As at the time of filling this report, when news men contacted the Rector of the institution, Prof. James Okoro, he refuted the allegations leveled against him and other management staff of the institution saying the accusations were baseless and an handiwork of his detractors.
In a telephone conversation, the Registrar, Mr Churchill Ighovojah and the Head of salary unit, Mrs Dora Okpegho, denied the allegations describing it as false allegation adding that the Petitioner, Mr Solomon Ologe a staff of the institution who is on study leave abroad came up with such spurious allegations because he was asked to return home following the expiration of his leave period.
While we expect the institution to make an official statement in this regard, we therefore call on the Delta State government led by the Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, other relevant bodies to carry out an investigative panel of inquiry to probe into the allegations against the officials of the institution and carry out sanctions where necessary to save the institution from any form of corrupt practices that undermine the interest of both the State government and members of the public.
