Another Massive Funds Scam Rocks Delta State Polytechnic Otefe-Oghara as Rector, Top Officials Allegedly Embezzle ₦27 Million

Secrets Reporters

Fresh allegations of massive embezzlement have hit the Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara, with claims that the Rector, Prof. Emmanuel Ufuophu-Biri, and other senior officials diverted over ₦27 million meant for the purchase and cloning of computers for the Computer Science Department.

According to multiple sources within the institution, final year students (ND 2 and HND 2) in the Computer Science Department were directed to pay ₦65,000 each as part of their project fees into a private Opay account (8064037860) belonging to one Ezekiel Ogheneochuko Daniel. The money was supposedly for procuring additional computers to support the unbundling of the HND Computer Science programme into four new departments: Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Networking, and Software Engineering.

However, investigations revealed that instead of using the funds for the intended purpose, the Dean of the School of Applied Sciences & Technology, Rev. Dr. Gabriel Ogbogbo, the Head of Computer Science Department, Dr. Okorodudu Joseph, and other staff allegedly shared the money among themselves.

The sharing formula reportedly sparked serious internal conflict, leading to the matter being escalated to the institution’s management.

In what sources described as a collaborative cover-up, only four computers were eventually purchased, while over ₦20 million was allegedly transferred to a management-controlled account and later shared among top principal officers, including the Rector, Deputy Rector Dr. Samuel Azubuike Ogbogu, Bursar Mr. Sunday Omokaro, Registrar Mr. Efedi Chukwuemeke, and others.

Despite the internal crisis, the same directive was issued again in the 2025/2026 academic session, with final-year Computer Science students once more asked to pay ₦65,000 each for “purchase and cloning of computers.” The directive reportedly did not sit well with some of the new Heads of Departments of the unbundled programmes, as it conflicted with their project requirements.

Frustrated by the continuous extortion, a staff member took to Facebook to expose the scam, directly indicting top management officials. The post reportedly drew the attention of highly placed government functionaries in Delta State, forcing the Rector to receive several calls from top officials. This led to an emergency meeting last month between management and all staff of the Computer Science Department.

In what insiders described as damage control, the Rector was said to have cancelled any further collection of the ₦65,000 levy. However, no significant number of computers has been procured till date, while sources insist that over ₦25 million has already been embezzled and shared.

Discreet investigations by SecretsReporters further revealed that a large percentage, allegedly up to 80%, of Prof. Ufuophu-Biri’s recent appointees into key positions have been previously investigated or indicted for various misconducts. This has raised serious concerns about the Rector’s leadership style and his alleged preference for loyalty over integrity.

This latest scandal comes barely weeks after explosive reports by SecretsReporters exposed alleged diversion of over ₦1 billion in staff pensions, TETFUND funds, and other deductions by the Rector and his principal officers. The reports triggered partial pension remittances to staff and subsequent detention of the Rector, Bursar, Registrar, and others by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The recurring nature of these allegations paints a disturbing picture of systemic graft at the Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara. Students are being heavily burdened with illegal levies while funds meant for critical infrastructure and academic development are allegedly diverted and shared among a few individuals.

As of the time of this report, neither the Rector, Prof. Emmanuel Ufuophu-Biri, the Dean Rev. Dr. Gabriel Ogbogbo, nor Dr. Okorodudu Joseph had responded to the fresh allegations.

Stakeholders, including the Delta State Government, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and anti-graft agencies, are expected to urgently intervene to stem what appears to be entrenched corruption in the institution and protect students from continued financial exploitation.