In an extensive narrative of his allegations, supported by formal petitions to the medical director of the hospital, the police, the code of conduct bureau, and the national assembly, dated between 2023 and 2024, Dr Godsday alleged that senior officials of FMC Asaba, acting in concert with some staff and external collaborators, orchestrated a campaign to remove him as Head of Department, tarnish his reputation and frustrate his career progression.
A former Head of the Physiotherapy Department at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, Dr Ogbutor Udoji Godsday, has accused the management of the hospital and some senior officials of conspiracy, abuse of power, cyberstalking, theft, and threats to his life, following events that led to his removal from office and eventual resignation.
In an extensive narrative of his allegations, supported by formal petitions to the medical director of the hospital, the police, the code of conduct bureau, and the national assembly, dated between 2023 and 2024, Dr Godsday alleged that senior officials of FMC Asaba, acting in concert with some staff and external collaborators, orchestrated a campaign to remove him as Head of Department, tarnish his reputation and frustrate his career progression.
Dr Godsday said he served as Head of the Physiotherapy Department from 2011 until 2023, adding that his appointment was based on seniority.
He claimed that resistance to his headship began immediately, allegedly driven by ethnic sentiments and internal power struggles within the hospital.
“My appointment as the head of department attracted so much resistance from a group of people who believe that the hospital belongs to them... ethnicity factor,” Dr Godsday told SaharaReporters.
According to him, despite the hostility, the department flourished under his leadership, attracting students from across Nigeria and abroad.
He said the department was rated among the top 15 physiotherapy departments in Nigeria in 2023, and that he personally received awards for professional excellence.
Alleged conspiracy and cyberstalking
However, Dr Godsday alleged that in 2023, a conspiracy intensified to remove him as head of the department.
“I have a tabloid newspaper publication to this effect, where they engaged the publisher's services to attack the image of the hospital and some principal officers. Ever since that period, there has been a series of clandestine moves to set me up and tarnish my image to no avail,” he said.
“In 2023, the conspiracy had thickened by this time, and several people were recruited, unknown to me, though information was coming in regularly on the planned action. The whole agenda was to remove me as the head of the department.”
He alleged that some interns were recruited to secretly record him and manufacture allegations that could justify disciplinary action.
He told SaharaReporters, “In 2023, a set of students were engaged and unknown to me, some of them were recruited to set me up, record me and bring up evidence that would be used to nail me.
“Different forms of setup were orchestrated, but I didn't fall victim to their traps. From the information gathered, they were instructed to ‘Look for anything and use to write a petition against me to give them a working tool.’”
When those efforts failed, Dr Godsday claimed that false allegations of extortion were raised against him, but collapsed after an internal review.
He alleged that the plot escalated when a defamatory post accusing him of bullying, torture and sexual harassment appeared on X (formerly Twitter), published by a third party allegedly recruited by an intern and senior administrative officials.
Screenshots of the post were allegedly circulated internally to principal officers of FMC Asaba before the post was deleted.
Dr Godsday said this post became the basis for subsequent disciplinary steps against him.
Petition to the Medical Director
In multiple letters addressed to the Medical Director of FMC Asaba, Dr Victor Azubuke Oshiatuma, Dr Godsday said he protested his removal as head of department, the appointment of his subordinate as acting HOD, and his placement on compulsory leave while investigations were still ongoing.
He argued that the actions violated Public Service Rules and the Guidelines for Appointments, Promotion and Discipline, which require disciplinary panels to conclude investigations within two weeks and prohibit punitive measures before findings are issued.
He also accused management of withholding his promotion letter to the rank of Deputy Director, which he said had been approved by the Federal Ministry of Health with effect from January 1, 2023, along with associated salary arrears and pension contributions.
Petition to the Police
In a petition dated November 25, 2024, addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, Dr. Godsday requested an investigation into what he alleged to be ‘criminal conspiracy, cyberstalking, theft, and abuse of office’ involving Mr. Patrick C. Ononye, Mr. Utomi Milton Kanayo, and others.
He stated that the Delta State Police Command, through its Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime Squad, investigated the matter and allegedly established links among key actors in the cyberstalking and conspiracy, while exonerating him due to lack of evidence.
However, he expressed concern over delays in enforcement, noting that more than a year after his initial petition, his allegedly stolen property had not been recovered.
“Unfortunately, the former AIG of Police in Zone 5 was the boy's uncle, and he instructed that the case should be turned against me, but for the overwhelming evidence, the police in Delta then tried to suppress the matter...kill the matter with unnecessary delay,” he alleged.
Alleged break-in and theft
Dr Godsday alleged that during his forced leave between October 2023 and February 2024, his office was broken into by a junior colleague.
He alleged that some of his personal items were moved to another office and put to use, while others were unaccounted for.
Dr Godsday listed items he said were taken from his office while he was on compulsory leave, including two office tables, an office chair, two spare car keys, a freezer, two laptops, curtains, books, journals, personal files and documents, with a total estimated value of ₦1.88 million.
He said he reported the alleged burglary to the Medical Director, Dr Osiatuma, but instead of investigating the matter, management allegedly commissioned an audit aimed at indicting him for theft of hospital property.
According to him, the audit allegedly found that items he was accused of stealing were still within the hospital premises, but he alleged that the final report was “twisted” to support management’s narrative.
Code of Conduct Bureau petition
In a detailed appeal to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) in Abuja, Dr Godsday accused the Medical Director and other senior officials of abuse of office, conspiracy and deliberate violation of due process.
He alleged that individuals who were subjects of his complaints were appointed as members of the investigative panel, while external persons, including relatives of an intern involved in the dispute, were admitted into the panel, compromising its neutrality.
He further alleged that while he was being punished, individuals he accused of cyberstalking him were celebrated and given awards by management.
Dr Godsday requested the intervention of the CCB to compel FMC Asaba management to release his promotion letter, pay all outstanding entitlements and recover his allegedly stolen property.
Appeal to the House of Representatives
In his petition to the House of Representatives, routed through his constituency representative, Dr Godsday accused FMC Asaba management of persistent abuse of office, intimidation and cover-up.
He told lawmakers that the conspiracy against him was partly fueled by his resistance to alleged corruption, including contract irregularities and employment racketeering, and by fears that he might contest for the position of Head of Administration.
He alleged that a House committee commenced hearings into the matter and openly criticised the conduct of FMC Asaba management, urging them to settle the dispute.
However, he alleged that political pressure later stalled the process.
According to him, he was later informed that the matter was being diverted to an out-of-chamber settlement, which he opposed as the petitioner.
Alleged threats and resignation
Dr Godsday said he received threats linked to the dispute and alleged that rumours circulated about plans to harm him physically.
Citing concerns for his safety and mental health, he said he voluntarily resigned from FMC Asaba on the advice of his lawyers.
He said his resignation was not an admission of guilt but a step to preserve his life and pursue justice independently.
Calls for redress
Across his petitions and explanations to SaharaReporters, Dr Godsday consistently demanded the release of his promotion letter, payment of all salary arrears and pension contributions, recovery of his allegedly stolen property, disciplinary action against those he accused of wrongdoing, and a formal apology to enable him to process his retirement benefits.
As of the time of filing this report, Dr Godsday said some officials had contacted him to retrieve some of his belongings, but he maintained that key issues remained unresolved.
SaharaReporters’ attempts to reach the Medical Director, Dr. Osiatuma A. Victor, were unsuccessful. Efforts to contact some of the individuals named by Dr. Godsday, including Mr. Patrick C. Ononye and Mr. Utomi M. Kanayo, were also unsuccessful.
WATCH: Ex-Federal Medical Centre Asaba HOD Alleges Conspiracy, Theft, Abuse Of Power Against Hospital Management pic.twitter.com/mDvVOzSdgL
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) January 23, 2026