The Chief Clinical Coordinator, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Cancer Centre, Prof Olufemi Fasanmade, has written to President Bola Tinubu, over the appointment of Prof Wasiu Adeyemo, as the LUTH Chief Medical Director.
Fasanmade in the letter addressed to the President, dated June 6, 2023, which he personally signed alleged that the selection process through which Adeyemo was appointed was flawed and compromised.
According to Fasanmade, he and Adeyemo served as Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) to the LUTH erstwhile CMD, Prof Chris Bode, at different times and that he was there the first four years with Adeyemo as his deputy.
“My two-term tenure as CMAC ended in 2020. Thereafter I went to head the clinical operations of the NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre (NLCC) and Adeyemo, my former deputy became the new CMAC, a position he held till a few months ago.
“Adverts for the vacant CMD position came out in 2 national newspapers on November 14th, 2022 and closed December 24th, 2022 a week before the advertised six (6) week closing date. Nonetheless, I submitted my application before the deadline.
“The erstwhile CMD vacated office on 24th March, 2023 and the then CMAC Prof Adeyemo was announced as acting CMD (despite being a competitor with me for the same substantive post),” part of the letter read.
Fasanmade further stated that interviews were delayed till after Adeyemo had resumed in his acting capacity, “thereby securing an extra 4-5 marks for the acting post which was given midway into the interview process. This was despite the fact that I had on several occasions in my own 4-year tenure as CMAC also acted as CMD.
“The interview panel I also learnt didn’t score me for grants I and others brought to LUTH despite evidence of this, while he was scored on this point.
“The interview panel scored him for the possession of a PhD from the University of Cologne, Germany (though his CV stated Dr.med dent degree and not PhD) while my MD postgraduate degree (which the National Universities Commission and the National Postgraduate Medical College have attested to be a PhD equivalent) was scored zero.”
Fasanmade also alleged that a few weeks after the interview, the Minister of Health interviewed him and Adeyemo privately in his (minister) hotel suite in Eko Hotel on April 28, 2023 for reasons best known to him.
“I am reliably informed that he had a prolonged meeting at the same venue with Prof Adeyemo before I was hurriedly summoned to come.
“Thereafter the Minister made several overtures including phone calls to me to have me accept a consolatory CMD position in the Federal Teaching Hospital in Wukari, Taraba State knowing that I didn’t apply for that position and others had been interviewed and shortlisted for that same position in Taraba State. I politely turned it down.
“I am aware that the office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) produced a letter on the 5th June 2023 directing the appointment of Adeyemo as CMD with effect from 24th March, 2023 (the day the CMD exited thereby reaffirming the fact that the interviews in March and April 2023 were mere formalities or non-existent).
“It is pertinent to note that interviews sessions for candidates into four other Federal Tertiary Institutions were done on the same day as that of LUTH in the Federal Ministry of Health.
“Equally pertinent, but curious was the unusual manner by which the Board of LUTH, duly constituted by the then President M Buhari, merely operated as an observer in the CMD selection process handled by Ministry officials in Abuja.
“Needless to emphasise that I am aware that several subsisting petitions on these irregularities were documented as letters and petitions to the Hon. Minister and other federal authorities by concerned stakeholders but were never considered nor attended to.
“It is also noteworthy that the Hon. Minister received scores from the interview panel which showed that both Profs Adeyemo and Fasanmade scored above 75% (minimum requirement for appointment is 60%).
“The Honorable Minister, I am aware, said in his recommendation letter that Prof Olufemi Fasanmade was appointable.
“The letter of appointment purportedly from the office of the SGF also seems to have been written on Sunday 28th May, 2023 just before the handover. I want to be convinced that this letter was not done by a person masquerading as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
“I am aware that only one of us can be appointed as CMD of LUTH but for transparency and accountability, I would want to exercise my right to ascertain that due process was followed and no errors were made in the interview, screening of credentials and the scores collation process. This I believe will contribute to a rancour free, virile and fair process now and in the future,” he further stated in the letter.