Secrets Reporters
The Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara, is once again facing serious allegations of systemic corruption, with fresh claims that the institution’s management, under Rector Prof. Emmanuel Ufuophu-Biri, continues to tolerate and allegedly benefit from widespread extortion of students through the Students Industrial Work Scheme (SIWES).
According to credible sources within the institution, the Director of SIWES and TETFund Desk Officer, Dr. Ferdinand Okoro, a close ally of the Rector, has allegedly turned the SIWES directorate into a cash cow, generating tens of millions of naira annually through multiple illegal levies imposed on students.
Investigations reveal that Dr. Okoro, whose appointment as SIWES Director has been renewed yearly for over three years, is accused of masterminding several dubious collections, including ₦1,000 for I.T forms from all eligible students; ₦2,000 per student for registration handled exclusively by handpicked cyber café agents in the Schools of Engineering, Applied Sciences, and Business Studies; Agents allegedly remit ₦1,000 per student directly to Dr. Okoro; Sale of I.T logbooks at ₦4,000 each, despite the books being supposed to be provided free of charge; ₦1,000 for “oral defence” — a fee sources say has no basis in official SIWES guidelines; ₦1,000 for submission of reports and logbooks, and ₦7,000 from each ND2 student proceeding for the mandatory one-year Industrial Training, allegedly generating over ₦40 million annually.
In one of the most damning allegations, the SIWES Directorate, in collusion with selected cyber café operators, allegedly assigns students to “ghost” Industrial Training centres. Students pay up to ₦50,000 to have their logbooks stamped and signed without actually participating in the four-month training. Kickbacks from these arrangements are said to flow back to Dr. Okoro.
Sources claim that a former administrative staff member in the SIWES Directorate was redeployed after opposing these practices. A subsequent admin staff who raised similar concerns nearly came to blows with Dr. Okoro. The matter was only quelled after the Rector and top management intervened.
During a management meeting, the admin staff reportedly presented evidence showing that over ₦40 million had been illegally collected from students. Dr. Okoro was subsequently directed to remit a portion of the funds, said to be around ₦30 million, into a management-controlled account. Reliable insiders allege that the money was later shared among top officials of the polytechnic.
Despite these allegations, Dr. Ferdinand Okoro remains in his position, reportedly due to his close relationship with the Rector.
This latest scandal adds to a growing list of corruption claims against Prof. Emmanuel Ufuophu-Biri and his management team. In April 2026, SecretsReporters published a series of explosive investigations accusing the Rector, Registrar, Bursar, and other top officials of diverting over ₦1 billion in staff pension contributions, TETFUND funds, PAYE taxes, NHF, and NHIS deductions.
Following those reports, many staff began receiving long-overdue pension alerts (some for 28–30 months at once), though union leaders described the payments as selective and lacking accrued interest as required by the Pension Reform Act. The ICPC later detained the Rector, Bursar, Registrar, and others for questioning.
Prof. Ufuophu-Biri had previously dismissed the earlier allegations as a witch-hunt by disgruntled staff denied promotions. He had invited investigators to probe the institution and promised full cooperation.
The continued retention of Dr. Okoro despite internal complaints and alleged massive extortion raises fresh questions about accountability and conflict of interest at the polytechnic. Critics argue that the Rector’s protection of key allies perpetuates a culture of impunity while students bear the financial burden of these illegal levies.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Prof. Emmanuel Ufuophu-Biri nor Dr. Ferdinand Okoro had responded to the fresh allegations.