Officials Arrested for Allegedly Selling Health Ministry Materials – Governor

Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has ordered the arrest and prosecution of Ndukwe Ayansi and five other individuals for allegedly selling and diverting materials intended for the state’s Ministry of Health.

The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Monday Uzor, released a statement on Sunday, detailing the events. Governor Nwifuru discovered the alleged wrongdoing during a routine project inspection, when he saw a Toyota Dyana truck loading registers, books, and other materials from the Ministry of Health’s warehouse.

Upon inquiry, the governor grew suspicious and conducted further investigation, uncovering that patient data registers, medical cards, and several other documents had been loaded into the vehicle. It was later revealed that these materials had been sold without government authorization.

Governor Nwifuru condemned the act, describing it as sabotage to the government’s efforts to improve the health sector. He expressed his frustration, emphasizing that despite being in office for less than two years, his administration had invested over N6 billion in purchasing equipment for primary healthcare centers and general hospitals. He lamented that while hospitals in rural areas were requesting essential documents like registers and hospital cards, the materials were being sold by the very individuals entrusted with them.

The suspects have been handed over to the police, and investigations into the matter are ongoing.