Delta Assembly upholds Rector’s suspension, extends Bursar’s sanction over alleged misconduct at Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic

The Delta State House of Assembly has upheld the six-month suspension of the Rector of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, Professor Emmanuel Achuenu, while extending the suspension of the institution’s Bursar to six months over alleged administrative and financial misconduct.

The decision followed the adoption of a detailed 29-page report presented by the Chairman of the House Ad-hoc Committee, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, during Thursday’s plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Dennis Guwor. The committee was set up to investigate the lingering conflict between the Rector and the Governing Council, which had escalated into a major institutional crisis threatening the peace, stability, and reputation of the Polytechnic.

Presenting the report, Hon. Nwaobi explained that the investigation uncovered alleged administrative misconduct and financial breaches involving the Rector, Professor Emmanuel Achuenu, and some management officials of the institution. He said the findings revealed certificate racketeering, irregular auctioning of metal scraps, vehicles, and other property belonging to the Polytechnic, as well as questionable financial transactions within the school’s accounts and revenue system.

According to Hon. Nwaobi, “The investigation revealed deep-seated administrative lapses and financial breaches that demand immediate corrective action to restore accountability and integrity in the Polytechnic’s operations.” He noted that the committee’s recommendations were aimed at restoring sanity, strengthening due process, and promoting harmony among stakeholders within the institution.

The committee recommended that the Rector’s six-month suspension, earlier approved by the Governing Council, be upheld by the Visitor to the Polytechnic, the Governor of Delta State to allow an unfettered, undisturbed, and unbiased investigation into the allegations against him. It also advised that the Deputy Rector should act in an interim capacity throughout the suspension period to ensure administrative stability.

Although the committee initially recommended a three-month suspension for the Bursar, the House, after deliberations, amended the recommendation to extend the suspension to six months, bringing it in line with that of the Rector. It also directed that the most senior Chief Accountant should act in the Bursar’s stead pending the conclusion of investigations.

In its further recommendations, the committee urged the Honourable Commissioner for Higher Education to exercise caution and always act in strict compliance with the law establishing the Polytechnic and other tertiary institutions in the state. It cautioned the Commissioner to desist from any actions that could be interpreted as usurping the powers of the Visitor.

The committee also called on the Visitor to the Polytechnic, the Governor, to invoke Section 32(1) and (2) of the law establishing the institution, which empowers him to conduct or direct a visitation into the affairs of the Polytechnic. It stated that such a visitation should focus on the alleged administrative misconduct, financial improprieties, certificate racketeering, and irregular auction sales of the institution’s property, as well as the general state of the Polytechnic’s finances and governance.

After extensive deliberations on the report, the House adopted the recommendations with the amendment extending the Bursar’s suspension to six months. Speaker Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor directed the Clerk to communicate the resolution to the Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and other relevant parties, reaffirming the Assembly’s commitment to transparency, due process, and good governance across all state institutions.