Trevor Macaulay
Fresh facts have emerged, revealing the true realities surrounding the administrative rot at Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku of monumental corruption and certificate racketeering. The situation in this once reputable institution of academic integrity, is now mired in scandal, and is deeply unsettling for staff, students and concerned citizens.
However, at the centre of thistragedylies the issues of prejudice, compromise, favouritism and premeditated actions as far as the Ministerial Committee constituted to investigate the alleged irregularities.
The most worrisome part from the findings of the independent journalists and internal sources is the uncovering of a skewed Ministerial Committee that appears to have been compromised by interested parties and ethnic interests.
From the point of view of concerned senior staff and others, the constituted Ministerial Committee has three members from the same Ndokwa clan alone, where the Rector, Professor Emmanuel Achuenu hails from. Notably, Hon. Christopher Ifeanyi Osakwe, Deputy Chief of Staff in the office of the Deputy Governor of Delta State, chairs the committee. This is troubling given that the Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, also of Ndokwa origin, is said to be a close relative of the Rector, and actually recommended him for rectorship appointment in 2022 under the Okowa administration.
Surprisingly, the brazenness did not just stop at appointing Osakwe as Chairman of the committee. Mrs. Bridget Odobor, who is the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, and a close relative of the Deputy Governor, was also appointed into the committee, as Secretary. There is also evidence that two other members of the Ministerial Committee are of Ndokwa clan. So, the question on the lips of concerned members of the polytechnic and the public who are watching closing the events as it unfolds is: Where then is the fairness and justice in this nepotistic appointment of members of the Ministerial Committee?
One thing is incontestable, and that is the fact that the troubled Rector is fighting hard and with everything he has, to save himself and his cohorts from any form of well-intentioned and transparent investigation. For Professor Achuenu, everything possible must be done to circumvent the outcome of the Ministerial Committee.
So far, Professor Emmanuel Achuenu has been able to enlist the support and sympathy of many people in high places, including those in Ministry of Higher Education in Delta State. No doubt, Professor Achuenu is further emboldened by the composition of this lopsided and skewed Ministerial Committee that leaves much to be desired.
From the investigations of these independent journalists, it appears from the look of things that the outcome of the Ministerial Committee may have been premeditated because of the one-sided composition of the committee.
A senior staff of the polytechnic who spoke on the condition of anonymity said: “What is happening in this polytechnic today is a dangerous trend that must be addressed, and urgently too, before it escalates beyond control. Any independent observer that visits this institution on fact finding can easily observe all the inanities taking place today. And this is unacceptable. This institution cannot afford to have in its midst, people perceived to be “untouchables” because of their connections to powerful people in government circle. Impunity has no place in an academic environment, and this has remained our collective position since this calamity began. We are therefore calling on all men and women of goodwill to support our struggle towards a transparent and better academic environment.”
A few weeks ago when an investigating journalists contacted the Rector to comment on the lingering issues of corruption and certificate racketeering that have given the school a very bad name, he casually said that he was waiting for the Ministerial Committee’s report. That response in itself; is not only curious but condescending and uncalled for. And this has also necessitated further investigation which has revealed the rector’s filial and friendly relationships with a committee that is supposed to investigate him. That is at the heart of this follow-up story.
However, another source in the polytechnic also alluded to issues of disrespect and disregard for constituted authority by the so-called powerful men on trial at the moment. “I think their ultimate plan is to buy everyone with their money and influence within the campus. We also know that they are seriously looking out for anyone who opposes them.”
Before now, the polytechnic Council had instituted a joint committee made up of Council members and staff of the Academic Board. It is important to state that the Council came out with, their own findings which is not public knowledge yet. Naturally, the senior staff members and the polytechnic community are anxious and expectant over this pending Council Committee report.
Another fact beyond dispute is that among members of the polytechnic senior staff, it is generally believed that the Ministerial Committee’s investigation is not thorough and far reaching in the first place. This is so because members of the investigating committee interviewed only a few people like: Jude Okocha, the suspended registrar and Nduka Charles, who, like Okocha is also accused of certificate racketeering.
It is pertinent also to state that the independent investigative journalists on this matter had earlier revealed that the Rector, Professor Achuenu is also culpable of financial malfeasance. This financial recklessness are well documented, including the unaccounted N48 million naira that was extravagantly expended during the school’s last accreditation exercise and another N500 million unauthorized and bogus expenditures without approvals.
More disturbing is the fact that the Rector is openly alleged to be shielding known perpetrators of certificate forgery, some of whom are still in active service. Investigative reports previously implicated Dr. Jude Okocha (suspended Registrar) and Nduka Charles, among others. Despite overwhelming evidence, the Rector remains evasive, merely stating he is “waiting for the committee’s report” a response widely seen as dismissive and insincere.
Internally, the institution is now polarized. The Rector is accused of employing a divide-and-rule strategy, further deepening factions among staff and undermining morale. “He is rarely present to provide leadership, and key administrative systems have reportedly collapsed”, revealed by a senior polytechnic community. The school’s credibility is also at risk, with fears that graduates may face global rejection due to the stigma of certificate fraud.
It was also gathered that Professor Achuenu is an expert in the old governance structure of divide and rule, and he is exploiting it to the fullest. This may have paid off handsomely for the Rector because there are now two factions in the school. But for how long would this polarization continue? It is also believed that Professor Achuenu is using the huge resources at his disposal to buy people and also buy time.
Also a prominent civil rights group has praised Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Francis Oborevwori for the ongoing reforms and upgrade of the state’s tertiary institutions. According to them, the only way His Excellency can keep up his commendable activities and good work in the field of education is to be decisive and ensure a proper investigation which is crucial to ascertain the extent of the mismanagement, identify those responsible in the sale of fake certificates and malfeasance among other administrative laxity, and ensure accountability.
However, the academic community and well-meaning Deltans are now calling on His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, to act swiftly and decisively to rescue this important state institution from further disgrace. His administration’s commendable efforts to uplift tertiary education in Delta State risk being overshadowed by inaction in this case.
They said: “we cannot allow our children and their parents to suffer because of the misdeed of a few who are supposed to protect them”. As we all know, the nation and the world at large, will disown our brilliant brains because of the indiscretion of a few persons in our school. It will be recall that, this evil came to the shores of this institution in 2018. But we were lucky at the time that the former Rector, a brilliant scholar and consummate administrator, Professor Chiemeke, now the Vice Chancellor of Delta State University, Agbor, fought hard to eradicate the evil wind”.
“Unfortunately, the same group of persons in the registry department that gave forged documents to the suspect to tender in the court are still at work today. They were also the ones that hired the lawyers that fought spiritedly for the suspect’s release. They did so because they were afraid of being exposed. Today, we are witnessing the most dangerous aspect of this certificate racketeering where a Rector is openly and unabashedly, supporting procuring fraudulent certificates in our institution. Worse still, he is using state apparatus, including the polytechnic funds to shield the culprit from prosecution.”
“Your Excellency Sir, we have no resources to send our children to other big institutions. We are also pleading with you to please let justice be done. As you know, this school used to be one of the best polytechnics in Nigeria until this ugly development came to the fore. You may not be aware, Your Excellency, but the truth is that your Ministerial Committee has been hijacked. All of them are now busy looking for ways to circumvent the process, legitimize the evil called certificate racketeering and if possible, free the accused.
Therefore, we respectfully urge you to rejig the Ministerial Committee, and if possible, bring in credible scholars and people of integrity like Professor Chiemeke to chair that committee. This committee should not be the exclusive preserve of family members and friends. Everybody, including the citizens of our dear Delta State, the Fourth Estate of the Realm, the Civil Society Groups, the Nation and even the World, are watching. Please Sir, do not allow this matter to go international, we are begging you.”
*Macaulay is an investigative journalist
