Trail Reporters
News reaching Trail Reporters news desk indicates that one of the accomplices who aided and abetted Clara Sogbaike, the immediate past Rector of Delta State Polytechnic, Oghara, in looting the Polytechnic coffers to a state of coma, has recently been suspended from office as the Chief Internal Auditor of Delta State Polytechnic, Oghara.
We gathered that his suspension followed several allegations of misconducts and abuse of office levied against him.
Trail reporters learnt that Sylvester Okah was accused of stealing Generators belonging to the Polytechnic and also stealing and diversion of several bags of cement meant for construction of buildings and other projects in the polytechnic. We gathered that, nemesis caught up with him when the new Rector, Prof. Emmanuel Apoyi Opujor, who is well known to have a zero tolerance for corruption, took over the leadership of the institution.
We were reliably informed by one of the Deans in the polytechnic, that on assumption of office, Prof. Emmanuel inherited a debt of over N130 Million with less than N8 Million in the school coffers.
A tour by our team of Reporters to the other two sister Polytechnics in the State, revealed that, the immediate past rector of Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, Jacob Oboreh, built several powerful structures including a magnificent up-to-date stadium which is regarded as one of the best in South South and left over N300 Million in the school coffers as at the time the new Rector, Prof. Job Akpodiete, took over the leadership of the Polytechnic.
The immediate past Rector of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi Uku, Edna Mogekwu, also built magnificent structures in the polytechnic and left over N100 Million in the school coffers as at the time the new rector, Prof. Chiemeke Stella took over leadership of the Polytechnic. Documents/informations/pictures made available to our team of reporters, revealed that, the embattled former Chief Internal Auditor, Sylvester Okah, looted funds in connivance with Clara Sogbaike, and purchased several properties including City of God Hostel located very close to White House Hostel, Otefe-Oghara.
We also authoritatively gathered that Sylvester Okah is a Special guest to EFCC, as he is being probed alongside with his former boss, Clara Sogbaike, the present Bursar, Napoleon Akpubi and the present Registrar, Benson Omonode.
When one of our correspondents visited the polytechnic and contacted one of the Committee members investigating Sylvester Okah, he confirmed most of the allegations against Okah to be true, but informed us that their scope of investigation is limited to Stealing of generator and one or two other allegations.
He also confided in our reporter that during the course of investigation, various persons including staff of Bursary/Audit were invited by their Committee to testify, and at the end of it all, most of their testimonies seriously indicted Sylvester Okah. We were informed that the Committee’s report has been forwarded to the appropriate authorities which is awaiting Management/ Governing Council decision.
We learnt that, going by the Polytechnic Rules, Sylvester Okah’s appointment as a staff of the Polytechnic may be terminated or given a lighter punishment as Governing Council deems fit.
Efforts by our reporter to speak with Okah to get his comments were unsuccessful, as we were informed he was not seat.
Everyday for the thief, one day for the owner. Sylvester Okah should be suspended from the Polytechnic following due process and handed over to the police for prosecution.