Burutu: Group Accuses Dcn Otirhue of Secret Plans to Appoint Non-Indegene as HPM, Exposes Ms Umolo Oghenerioke False Claims of Kiagbodo

•Calls for thorough investigation

Concerned Indigenes of Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State have accused one Ms Umolo Oghenerioke of falsification of identity over alleged desperate moves to be appointed as Head of Personnel Management (HPM) by November 2026.

In a report the concerned Indigenes alleged that Ms Umolo Oghenerioke hailed from the Ovwodokpokpo Community in Olomu kingdom, Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state and not Kiagbodo in Burutu LG as claimed.

The Concerned Indigenes of Burutu Local Government Area has called on the Executive Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Elder Sheriff Oborevwori immediately intervened and called to order the Chairman of the Delta State Local Government Service Commission, Hon. Dcn. Joseph Otirhue to stop his secret plans to impose non-indigene on Burutu LGA quota.

This was contained in a petition forwarded to the Honourable Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dennis Emomotimi Guwor, and the Chairman of the Delta State Local Government Service Commission, Hon. Dcn. Joseph Otirhue which was dated 17th September, 2026, demanding investigation on Ms Umolo Oghenerioke alleged claims of being a member of the Kiagbodo community, adding that it was a misrepresentation in the service records while demanding formal investigation.

The said petition to the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and that of the Chairman of the Delta State Local Government Service Commission against the proposed appointment of Ms Umolo Oghenerioke, a non-indigene as Head of Personnel Management (HPM) in the Burutu Local Government Council
was signed by Comrade Suowei Ayikimi Felix as representative on behalf of the Concerned Indigenes of Burutu LGA.

According to the concerned indigenes of Burutu LGA, the petition had become necessary because the matter now threatened the integrity of the quota system, the rights of genuine Burutu indigenes, and public confidence in the appointment processes of the Delta State Local Government Service.

The angry citizens expressed disappointment at Dcn. Joseph Otirhue that several petitions had been written, adding that the traditional ruler of Ngbilebiri Mein-Kingdom, HRM. Pere Samuel Akpomiemie Fuludu had informed him and the commission that the lady in question wasn’t from Burutu Local Government as she falsely claimed but he refused to listen rather he wants to manipulate the process in a bid to short change the bonafide indigenes of Burutu of their rights.

While accusing Dcn. Otirhue of deliberate refusal to do the right thing by thoroughly investigating the formal petition alleging false claims of indigeneship and misrepresentation and a follow-up petition drawing his attention to subsequent developments affecting the credibility of the claim of origin by Ms Umolo Oghenerioke were currently at his desk.

They cited that under the Delta State Civil Service Rules, Section 467, Section 164 and Section 484, Criminal Code Act clearly stated that forgery, perjury, impersonation and obtaining employment by false pretence, lying on oath in an affidavit, altering certificate of origin and falsely holding out as a Burutu indigene is classified as serious misconduct punishable by outrightly dismissal, forfeiture of salaries, and prosecution.

However, the Concerned Indigenes of Burutu are using this medium to call on the Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori immediately ordered the Chairman of the Delta State Local Government Service Commission, Hon. Dcn. Joseph Otirhue to launch thorough investigation on the affected staff of Burutu LGA quota, and do the needful by giving the slot to indigene of Burutu Local Government and not an outsider.

The statement further warned that Burutu indigeneship is a matter of blood, birth and community recognition, and not a document for sale, adding that anyone caught will lose the job, refund all earnings, and face the full wrath of the law, probably prosecution and jail term if found guilty.

The concerned indigenes concluded by lamenting that this type of fraud had denied many qualified Burutu youths of employment opportunities over the years, distorts local government staffing equity, and undermines public trust in the civil service.

Attached the petition below:

PETITION ON THE ALLEGED MISREPRESENTATION OF INDIGENESHIP AND PROPOSED APPOINTMENT OF A NON-INDIGENE AS HEAD OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (HPM), BURUTU LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL

The attention of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Executive Governor of Delta State, is respectfully drawn to an urgent matter concerning the proposed appointment of a staff as Head of Personnel Management (HPM) in Burutu Local Government Council under the Burutu LGA quota.

Concerned Indigenes of Burutu Local Government Area respectfully appeal to His Excellency to intervene and direct the Delta State Local Government Service Commission, under the leadership of its Chairman, Hon. Dcn. Joseph Otirhue, to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the alleged claim of Burutu/Kiagbodo indigeneship by Ms. Umolo Oghenerioke, who is alleged to originate from the Ovwodokpokpo Olomu Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area.

The matter arises from concerns that Ms. Oghenerioke may have made representations concerning her origin and indigeneship which are disputed by the recognised traditional authority and indigenes of the area. These concerns have reportedly been brought to the attention of the Local Government Service Commission through petitions and other communications, including representations by HRM Pere Samuel Akpmiemie Fuludu, the traditional ruler of Ngbilebiri-Mein Kingdom.

A petition dated 17 September 2026 was also submitted to the Rt. Hon. Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dennis Emomotimi Guwor, and the Chairman of the Delta State Local Government Service Commission, calling for an investigation into the alleged false declaration of indigeneship, possible misrepresentation in service records, and the proposed appointment of Ms. Oghenerioke as HPM under the Burutu LGA quota.

The Concerned Indigenes respectfully submit that these allegations raise serious questions concerning the integrity of the Local Government Service appointment and quota system and, if left unresolved, may adversely affect the legitimate interests of qualified indigenes of Burutu Local Government Area.

It is particularly concerning that, despite the petitions and representations reportedly made to the Commission, the alleged issues concerning Ms. Oghenerioke’s claims of indigeneship have not, to the knowledge of the petitioners, been subjected to a transparent and conclusive investigation.

The petitioners therefore respectfully urge His Excellency to direct the appropriate authorities to:

1. Conduct an immediate, independent and thorough investigation into Ms. Umolo Oghenerioke’s claim of Burutu/Kiagbodo indigeneship and the documents upon which the claim is based;

2. Verify her service records, certificates, affidavits, certificates of origin and other relevant documents relating to her claim of origin and eligibility for appointment under the Burutu LGA quota;

3. Suspend or defer any proposed appointment as HPM under the Burutu quota until the investigation is concluded and the eligibility question is resolved;

4. Ensure that the Burutu Local Government quota is administered in accordance with applicable laws, regulations and principles of fairness and equity; and

5. Where any falsification, false declaration, forgery or other unlawful conduct is established, take appropriate disciplinary and legal action in accordance with the law.

The petitioners are not seeking the denial of any person’s legitimate rights. Rather, they seek transparency, due process and verification of the facts before an appointment is made to a position allocated to Burutu Local Government Area.

Burutu indigeneship is a matter that should be determined by verifiable evidence, applicable law, legitimate community recognition and established records, and not by disputed or allegedly inaccurate documentation.

The petitioners therefore respectfully appeal to His Excellency, in the interest of justice, fairness, equity and public confidence in the Delta State Local Government Service, to cause the matter to be thoroughly investigated before any further action is taken concerning the proposed appointment.

We respectfully rely on the intervention of His Excellency.

Yours faithfully,

Comrade Felix Ayikimi Suowei
For and on behalf of the Concerned Indigenes of Burutu Local Government.