SaharaReporters had last April reported hospital equipment theft involving the former Zonal Medical Director (ZMD) of the Ughelli Central Hospital, Dr. Moses Eyovwerhuvwu, and the former accountant Mr. Onyenekunum Azuka, and other officials of the hospital. This was the second allegation in less than two years of the appointment of the former ZMD who was described as a ‘master of fraud,’ that strives in corruption.
The Delta State Hospital Management Board (HMB) has confirmed a SaharaReporters story of fraud allegedly perpetrated by the former Zonal Medical Director (ZMD) of the Ughelli Central Hospital, Dr. Moses Eyovwerhuvwu, the former accountant Mr. Onyenekunum Azuka, and other officials of the hospital.
SaharaReporters had last April reported hospital equipment theft involving the former Zonal Medical Director (ZMD) of the Ughelli Central Hospital, Dr. Moses Eyovwerhuvwu, and the former accountant Mr. Onyenekunum Azuka, and other officials of the hospital. This was the second allegation in less than two years of the appointment of the former ZMD who was described as a ‘master of fraud,’ that strives in corruption.
After several months of trying to kill the issue without success, a disciplinary committee was set up by the Delta State Hospital Management Board, (HMB) and after rigorous investigations, Dr. Moses Eyovwerhuvwu, Mr. Onyenekunum Azuka, the accountant, and thirty-nine staff were found guilty for various offences ranging from fraud, embezzlement and dishonesty. They were since demoted or fired.
The HMB sanction report obtained by SaharaReporters, shows the names, stations, ranks, and offences committed and actions taken against the 41 staff.
According to the report, of the 41 staff, and 5 are medical doctors, made up of consultants, an Orthopaedic Surgeon, Senior Medical Officers II, and a Principal Medical Officer II while the actions taken against them include; withholding of promotion for a year, demotion in rank, reduction in steps by three steps for two years and final warning.
Also sanctioned was Mr. Onyenekunum Azuka, the former accountant for Ughelli Central Hospital, who is currently serving at the Tuberculosis Leprosirium, Eku and was also alleged to have been involved in embezzlement of public funds and failure to keep records. He was demoted in rank by one grade level and asked to refund N80,000 to the government coffers.
However five staff, Dr Erhurun Victor of Baptist Government Hospital, Eku, was summarily dismissed from service for abandonment of duty; Mr. Albert Elijah, Mr. Egusaye E. Gilbert and Mr. Bigwa Francis were summarily dismissed from service while Mrs. Agbozegbe Florence's appointment was terminated.