BY MICHAEL EKOKORUWE
Professor Benjamin Okaba, Director Institute of Foundation Studies Federal University, Otuoke Bayelsa State, has dismissed online report by Sahara reporters alleging that ‘Governing Council sacks, slams DELSU provost with 5 months suspension over financial misappropriation and assault’.
Okaba while reacting to the online publication said, “I left the Delta State University Abraka to Federal University Otuoke, in January 2017 voluntarily with my salary pay slips up to the time I left the services of DELSU”. He noted that DELSU registrar’s report on his voluntary withdrawer/transfer of service bears eloquent testimony that he was never sacked as wrongly stated by the online publication.
He maintained that, there was no case of sexual harassment or assault of Mr. Ezekiel Otuye that was made against him, emphasizing that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Security Services (S.S.S) carried out full scale investigation into the allegation of financial impropriety for which he was relieved of administrative appointment as the provost of Oleh campus in November 2015, found him not guilty.
Okaba said, a circular referenced ICPC/BO/INV/T.A/24 by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission completely exonerated him of all the allegations of fraud/financial impropriety as provost of Oleh campus Delta State University, Abraka. According to Okaba, other false accusation of having offered a Ph.D admission to one Mrs. Mukuro of the Department of Nursing, Delta State University Abraka was wrong.
Professor Okaba explained that, he was also wrongfully accused of having awarded a contract to an ex – councilor of Isoko South local government area when he was provost of Oleh campus, noting that a panel headed by professor D.F.Tom dismissed the false allegation when he ascertained that at the time when Mrs. Mukoro admission was being processed in 2009, he was not a staff of DELSU.
He urged Sahara reporters to cross check facts on the above explanation and make appropriate correction as he will not seek the downfall of people or organization no matter the level of provocation, adding that he is currently enjoying the peace of the Lord at the Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State.
