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From Judex Okoro, Calabar
A law firm, Shola Gabriel & Co, has dragged the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme, to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged financial misappropriation, embezzlement and diversion of funds.
The firm also prayed the commission to carry out a detailed investigation into the act and administration of the CMD, urging the commission to invite the CMD for questioning, in respect of all budgets and administration of funds since his appointment. He also called on the ICPC to invite the board for proper clarification in a prompt manner.
In the petition dated July 26, 2022, the firm, Shola Gabriel & Co, endorsed by Nelson Louisa, Esq, claimed that from inception till date, there has been several reports of misappropriation of public funds, misuse of public funds, deliberate withholding of payments due to contractors and diversion of public funds, amongst others.
They alleged that construction of the one kilometre road through Works Department to the Laboratory, in addition to the UNICAL fence, including the diversion to House Officers’ Hostel were all together not more than half a kilometre, even as the CMD has re-awarded the same contract to a different construction company for N158,000,000.00.
The firm disclosed that the contract in question was previously cleared and graded by a different contractor in the previous administration of Professor Thomas U.The firm further accused the CMD of approving N39,000,000 for the maintenance of an existing open drainage (gutter) from the main hospital gate to Esuk Atu village boundary, which was in existence before the present administration came on board, adding that “this administration only did a small stretch of the drainage and magnified the length” and that all the precast parts of the drainage were done before now.
(Continued on www.sunnewsonline.com)
They said the CMD allegedly violated section 22(3) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, by re-awarding the contract to another company, ETIMEX Environmental Services.
When contacted, the CMD, Prof Ikpeme, acknowledged receipt of the petition and described it as rubbish, saying “the content is totally rubbish. But, I want to react to it with facts.”
