The young fast growing Delta State Maritime Polytechnic, Burutu has come under watch and bedevilled with alleged financial misappropriation, gross condult and abuse of office laid down principles and practices by top management staff .
The allegations were contained in a press statement issued on September 10, 2025, by Engr. Ologe Solomon, 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, said over ₦774 million of 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, 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 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 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, victimization, 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
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 the same vain, the Registrar, Mr Churchill Ighovojah and the Head of salary unit, Mrs Dora Okpegho, denied the allegations in a telephone call describing it as false 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.
Meanwhile, the Delta State government under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is yet to speak or come up with white paper.
