Effurun, Delta State— Recent reports circulating in the media, particularly from SaharaReporters, have made serious allegations against the management of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), claiming that over N1 billion was misappropriated by staff and that amnesty was granted to those involved. These claims have been exposed as false, misleading, and deliberately mischievous by the current Acting Principal, Dr. Samuel Onoji, who has set the record straight.
A Timeline of Events: Setting the Context
The alleged misappropriation of funds is said to have occurred between 2020 and 2021, a period during which Dr. Henry Adimula was the Principal/Chief Executive of PTI. During this time, the Chief Internal Auditor (CIA) issued a query to the Director of Finance and Accounts (DFA) over issues related to the domiciliation of contractors’ accounts.
In response, the Principal and the PTI management promptly set up an investigation committee to look into the matter. This committee conducted a thorough investigation and submitted its findings. Subsequently, a disciplinary committee was established to address the issues raised.
Investigations and Exoneration
The disciplinary process for the DFA continued even after his first tenure ended and was not renewed due to the ongoing investigation. However, the DFA appealed to the PTI Governing Council for a review of his case. After careful consideration, both the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the PTI Governing Council found the DFA not guilty of any wrongdoing. Consequently, his tenure was renewed for a second term of four years in 2022, a clear indication of his innocence and the lack of any substantial evidence against him.
Dr. Onoji’s Role: A Non-Executive Director, Not an Approving Authority
It is crucial to clarify that Dr. Samuel Onoji, who took over as Acting Principal on March 21, 2024, was not in any executive position during the period in question. At that time, he served as the Director of Services, a non-executive role, and was never involved in approving any payments or contracts. His involvement in the matter was limited to being invited for questioning as part of routine procedures, and he was neither queried nor found guilty of any misconduct.
Dr. Onoji emphasized, “I was never Chief Executive at that time and was never an approving authority. I was a Non-Executive Director and was never queried, investigated, nor faced any disciplinary action.”
False Claims of Amnesty
One of the most damaging and false claims in the SaharaReporters story is that Dr. Onoji, as Acting Principal, granted amnesty to the indicted staff, including himself. Dr. Onoji categorically denied this, stating that no such amnesty was ever granted. Instead, the appeals of the involved staff were reviewed by a committee set up by his predecessor, and after careful consideration, they were found not guilty. These decisions were fully endorsed by the top management of the institute, with no dissenting opinions or minority reports.
Challenging the Misinformation
Dr. Onoji did not mince words in his response to the SaharaReporters publication, describing it as a “great mischief” and a “blanket of lies.” He challenged the reporters to produce any documents proving that he was ever queried, investigated, or faced disciplinary action. He further criticized the publication for its lack of professionalism and failure to conduct proper fact-checking before publishing such serious allegations.
“The reporters did a dirty job for those faceless enemies of the Institute. I challenge them to prove their claims quickly or bury their heads in ashes,” Dr. Onoji declared.
Conclusion: A Call for Responsible Journalism
The Petroleum Training Institute, under the leadership of Dr. Samuel Onoji, remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the highest standards of public service. The baseless and malicious reports circulating in the media do a disservice to the institute, its staff, and the public.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible journalism, where facts must be rigorously checked, and reports should be free of bias and hidden agendas. The PTI continues to operate with integrity, focused on its mission to provide skilled manpower to the Nigerian petroleum industry.
