A storm is brewing at the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, following the shocking revelations of over ₦500 million fraud allegedly uncovered by a Staff Audit and Verification Committee.
The institution, located in Aniocha south local government area, is at the center of allegations ranging from payroll fraud to gross financial mismanagement, raising serious concerns about corruption and governance.
The nine-member committee, inaugurated by the Chairman of the institution’s Governing Council, Paul Adingwupu, on August 19, 2024, was tasked with auditing staff credentials, verifying employment legitimacy, and scrutinizing payrolls.
The findings, however, have plunged the polytechnic into turmoil, purportedly exposing deep-rooted corruption and financial misappropriation.
Key revelations include the unexplained employment of 214 ad-hoc staff within a year, duplication of payments, and the existence of ghost workers.
Some staff, including domestic servants and political appointees, were fraudulently added to the payroll without legitimate appointments.
Others, including individuals who are deceased or have been absent for over a decade, continue to receive salaries.
The committee’s report highlights cases of blatant financial irregularities.
For example, certain individuals were allegedly paid twice under different serial numbers, while some staff employed as personal assistants and drivers to council members have never reported for duty.
The discovery of politically connected individuals allegedly receiving salaries as polytechnic staff further compounds the scandal.
The committee also accused the Governing Council of financial recklessness, alleging that Chairman Paul Adingwupu has turned the polytechnic into his “private estate.”
He is accused of misappropriating millions, including ₦28 million for the supply of computers and ₦10 million for biometric machines, with no adherence to due process.
“The polytechnic generates over ₦700 million annually, yet staff and students have suffered under poor infrastructure, mismanagement, and a lack of accountability,” a source revealed.
“The institution has been without electricity for over a year, and funds meant for development are being funneled into private pockets.”
Despite these shocking findings, the committee’s report has faced stiff resistance from the institution’s management.
Allegations have surfaced that the committee has demanded ₦8 million in allowances, while some members are accused of working to suppress the report.
Calls for Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to intervene are growing louder.
Stakeholders, staff, and students alike are demanding an independent investigation to unravel the extent of the corruption and hold those responsible accountable.
“The situation is a disgrace to the state’s education sector. If urgent action isn’t taken, the institution will collapse under the weight of corruption,” a concerned staff member stated.
When contacted, the Governing Council Chairman, Paul Adingwupu, refused to comment.
Similarly, the committee chairman, Chika Ogonwa, declined to discuss the findings.
The Rector, Emmanuel Achuenu, in a telephone conversation with The Story, downplayed the issue, stating that “the matter has been addressed,” but failed to provide evidence of corrective measures.
Hear him: “”We have addressed that matter. We have told people that people who are not in the school are not receiving salaries. We have responded to that their report.
“All of us are supposed to work on the report, I don’t know why they are making it look as if it’s an independent something.”
This scandal underscores the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and reform in Delta State’s educational institutions.
Without decisive action from the state government, the crisis at Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, could set a dangerous precedent for corruption and mismanagement in the education sector.
