Reports reaching Trail Reporters News Room revealed that the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has intensified its investigation into financial misappropriation against a former rector of Delta State Polytechnic, Oghara, Dr. (Mrs) Clara Sogbaike and other Principal Officers of the Polytechnic.
Discreet investigation by our crack team of journalists revealed that Clara Sogbaike’s tenure as Acting Rector of the Polytechnic started in 2011 and she later became the Substansive rector in 2012 which ended in March 2017. Further investigation has exposed a Multi Million Naira massive Secondary School named JACLASON INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL worth over N400m located at No.15 Obasuyi Street, Evbukhu, off Sapele Road, Benin-City belonging to the former Rector of Delta State Polytechnic Oghara which is suspected to have been built with looted funds from the Polytechnic coffers.
Other properties allegedly purchased with looted funds include; two powerful duplexes located at Jesse town, in Delta State, worth over N100m each belonging to the Registrar, Mr. Benson Omonode and the former Deputy Rector, Delta State Polytechnic Oghara, Mr. Nana Joseph.
Other properties belonging to the former Rector, Clara Sogbaike located within the Polytechnic environment were also exposed and has been identified by officials of EFCC while investigation is ongoing.
Trail Reporters were reliably informed that sources through which funds were diverted include a UBA Account Number 1012961004 operated by the Polytechnic through which over 70,000 students were forced to pay N5,500 to insure their lives from 2011 to 2016 Academic Session which amounted to over N400m and the students were never insured by the Polytechnic Management.
Other sources through which funds were diverted also includes Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) which from a reliable source, the Agency confirmed the release of over N700m to Delta State Polytechnic Oghara during the tenure of the former rector and also Internally Generated Revenues in the Polytechnic amounting to over N3 Billion which was generated from 2011 to 2017 were diverted for personal use.
Our Reporter was reliably informed by a Senior Management Staff of the Polytechnic who didn’t want his name in print because of the sensitive nature of the case, confirmed that EFCC officials were in Delta State Polytechnic last Tuesday to inspect the Tetfund projects the former Rector, Clara Sogbaike, allegedly claimed to have built with over N700m released to the polytechnic during her tenure as rector. Other very reliable sources within the polytechnic confirmed that not more than three structures were built in the polytechnic by Clara Sogbaike with Tetfund during her tenure and can be confirmed because the year each project was built is boldly written on them.
As at the time of filing this report, there is serious tension in the polytechnic as the Polytechnic Management now led by Prof. Emmanuel Ogujor is not willing to dent its image and reputation shielding any past corrupt official who has stolen Public funds, as he inherited debt of over N140m incurred by Clara Sogbaike which the polytechnic owes contractors who executed one project or the other and have not been paid till date because the polytechnic treasury was in financial coma as at the time the new rector, Prof. Emmanuel Ogujor took over as Rector.
