By Olubiyi Sosanya
The Federal Medical Center Abeokuta came into existence on 21st April, 1993 with a tripod function of providing healthcare services, research and training.
Since it's existence, the Center has witnessed not less than Six Medical Directors with Professor Adewale Musa-Olomu holding sway presently.
However with the appointment of Prof Musa-Olomu as Medical Director in July 2017, the Center has been in one controversy or the other, the main thrust of the crisis has been mainly fuelled from the staff of the frontline hospital.
It was gathered that while some see the crisis as a norm and which may fizzle away, the crisis fester on daily basis.
Our Correspondent gathered that based on the series of allegations brought against Prof Musa-Olomu, an investigative panel was set up by the Board of the Hospital with the panel indicting him.
With the indictment, the Board under the Chairmanship of Dr Abdulaziz Mahuta thereafter recommended to the Hon Minister of Health, State, not to reappoint Prof Musa-Olomu for second term.
In spite of the recommendation and series of protests from within the Center, Prof Adewale Musa-Olomu was given another term by the Federal government.
This did not go down well with his 'detractors' as on daily basis one negative issue or the other keeps on surfacing in the Center.
Former 2nd Vice-President of Nigerian Bar Association, Dr Monday Ubani who joined the league of his 'detractors' threatened to drag the federal government before the court for allegedly renewing the appointment of the Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Prof Adewale Musa-Olomu despite an indictment against him.
Addressing a press conference in Lagos, Ubani stated that Prof Musa-Olomu who was appointed as MD of FMC, Abeokuta in 2017, ought not to have had his reappointment renewed since he was indicted for age falsification, gross misconduct and abuse of office by the Board of medical centre.
Ubani noted that it is unfortunate that Prof Musa-Olomu who is also being investigated by the Nigerian Police, FCID, and is currently on administrative bail was not asked to step aside by the Federal Ministry of Health but was rewarded with a renewal of his appointment.
According to Ubani who vowed to file a suit against the FG if the appointment is not reversed, said such action negates the principle upon which the current administration under President Muhammadu Buhari claims to stand for.
He said: “President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was widely voted into power for a first and second term because the president assured Nigerians that he will fight corruption in any form in the country to a standstill.
“I want to use this opportunity to remind the APC led administration that what just happened in FMC, Abeokuta where a man who ought to have retired from service but clearly altered his age to get another term in office, is another form of corruption which if not reviewed, will certainly dent the image of this administration.
“I want to presume that the president personally may not be aware of what has happened in FMC Abeokuta with the connivance and collusion of the Federal Ministry of Health, but I believe it is not too late to revisit the matter.
“The old practice where public servants flagrantly violate the Public Service Regulations and Government Circular without punishment must be discouraged.
“Institution like FMC, similar Ministries, Departments and Agencies under the Federal Republic of Nigeria is governed by rules known as Public Service Rule; this is where guidelines both on appointment and retirement of a public servant are stipulated.
“Alteration or change in the date of birth presented while joining Public Service is a serious crime that should not be taken lightly. The Public Service Rule is clear about any Public Servant being investigated and proven to have altered or changed the date of birth which could lead to summary dismissal from the civil service.
“I hereby call on the Federal Government to review the process through which Prof Musa-Olomu’s tenure was renewed and if found to have been fraught with corruption, should be reversed. Our health system is too important and critical to be handled by persons of questionable character.
“Federal government should also investigate the circumstances under which the Ministry of Health suppressed the letter of the Board to the Ministry/Office of the SGF withdrawing its earlier recommendation of Prof Musa-Olomu for a second term which was written before the petitions that came in were investigated.
“I also demand that Federal Government should investigate the circumstances under which Prof Musa who is being actively investigated by the Nigerian Police FCID and is currently on administrative bail was not asked to step aside by the Ministry of Health but was instead recommended for a second term with the letter presented publicly to him by the Minister of Health despite the Ministry being in receipt of a court process seeking to forbid the step of renewal.
“Let me conclude by saying that if the Federal Government of Nigeria fails, refuses and/or neglect to address these weighty issues as raised in this press text, I shall without any further notice to them take legal measures and actions as a concerned citizen for the intervention of the judiciary into this crisis solely created by the Federal Ministry of Health.”
Apart from Ubani a non governmental organization, the Human and Environmental Department Agenda (HEDA), a civil organisation, wrote the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie E. Ehanire to investigate the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Prof Adewale Musa-Olomu over alleged age falsification and fraud.
Aside from the controversy surrounding his age, the MD was alleged to have employed his son, Babatunde, and in less than a year of the son’s appointment, he allegedly granted him leave to study in an European country, with pay.
The group alleged that within the period that Musa-Olomu was the MD, the hospital’s payroll increased with over 1,700 workers. It was also said the hospital bought a refurbished Computerised Tomography (CT) scanner at the price of a new one.
The machine, bought for N230 million, was said to have developed a fault four months after installation.
In a statement signed and delivered by HEDA chairman, Olanrewaju Suraj, the anti-corruption organisation demanded that the allegations against Musa-Olomu be diligently investigated and pending the outcome of the investigation, he should be suspended from office in order to allow for a hitch-free investigation.
According to him, the group will closely monitor the situation in line with its mandate to protect and promote universally recognized human rights, accountability and environmental justice in Nigeria and Africa, in accordance with international standards.
“Going by our mandate as a leading Anti-Corruption organisation in Nigeria, we demand that the honourable minister of health suspend the Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre- Abeokuta, Ogun State; Prof. Adewale Musa-Olomu, and do a thorough investigation.
“We want to state it clearly that if no action is taken, we will not hesitate to take further actions, including but not limited to reporting to higher authorities, litigation, media briefing among others. Thus, we urge the health minister to take action now as we look forward to a veracious outcome,” he affirmed.
This followed a November 5, 2021 suit with number FHC/AB/FMC/100/21 filed at the Federal High Court in Abeokuta, by the Youths Reoriented Initiative of Nigeria (AYRION) against the medical director.
With the Abeokuta High Court matter schedule for determination on March 16, 2022, and in order to also get back to those he thought were fanning the ember of discord within the Center, it was alleged that the MD in connivance with the powers that be allegedly employed the service of the SouthWest Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council and former Ogun State Chairman of Labour Party, Comrade Abayomi Arabambi to petition the Inspector General of Police, the Ogun State Command of Nigeria Police, the Health Ministry and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on allegations that those that were allegedly fanning the embers of discord in FMC Abeokuta were also not 'clean'.
Based on the petition, it was gathered that the Police had already invited not less than Ten of the Senior Staff including the Chairman of the Board of the Hospital, Dr AbdulAziz Mahuta.
It was also gathered that the Ministry of Health, State, also summoned about Eight of those mentioned in Arabambi petition to Abuja for questioning, including the Board Chairman AbdulAziz Mahuta
Speaking to Our Correspondent, an insider alleged that the petition might have arose in order to gag those against the Medical Director.
"Arabambi is just been used to blackmail those against the Medical Director, the question is of what interest is Arabambi in FMC management?
The source alleged that the move was to silence those opposing Prof. Musa-Olomu, but he failed to realize that the issue on ground has nothing to do with those he is persecuting, but a group outside the Center.
Speaking to Our Correspondent, Comrade Abayomi Arabambi denied the allegations that he is been sponsored by Prof Musa-Olomu, but said his interest is purely personal.
"I am a Nigerian, I also patronize FMC Abeokuta, as an health Institution that handle my health issue, I must be concern with what goes on there. Nobody is sponsoring or using me against anybody.
The investigative panel set up by Health Ministry on Monday and Wednesday attended to Eight of the Senior staff of the Centre.
The grill which began on Monday continued till Wednesday where the staff were rigorously interrogated over allegations bordering on stealing, criminal conspiracies, diversion of public funds, gross violation public service rules, financial crimes among others.
The Investigation Panel which held its sitting at the office of the Director, Human Resource Management of the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, was constituted by the ministry's Department of Hospital Services.
A letter dated February 4, 2022, summoning the FMC Abeokuta key staff to appear before the Panel was signed by Dr. Adebimpe Adebiyi, the Director, Department of Hospital Services on behalf of Minister of State for Health.
But reacting on behalf of the Medical Director of FMC Abeokuta, Prof. Adewale Musa - Olomu, in a release dated February 7, 2022, Segun Orisajo, Head of Public Relations and information confirmed the invitation but said it was a routine thing.
He said :"For the avoidance of doubts, the Management wishes to state that there was nothing unusual about the supposed invitation of some individuals by an organ of the law enforcement agents and the Federal Ministry of Health as published in a news report.
Such invitations are the routine steps commonly adopted by competent government agencies in the assignment of fact finding and should therefore not be misconstrued as breakdown of law and order in the Centre nor does it translates into that.
"It is expedient to put on record that within the past two months, five sub- specialty departments in the Centre got full accreditation for a period of five years each by the accrediting medical bodies for the purposes of training resident doctors.
"The departments are;. Radiology, Family Medicine, Paediatrics, Anaesthesia and Obsbstetrics & Gynaecology.
"Definitely, such remarkable achievements could not have been recorded in an atmosphere of tension and crisis as the Salient Times reporter would want the public to believe.
"As a further show of unity, brotheliness and togetherness, the hospital Union executives , members of the Hospital Management Committee and friends of the Centre were among the well wishers who graced the conferment of PhD in Anatomy on the Medical Director, Prof Adewale Musa-Olomu by the Olabisi Onabanjo University at Ago- Iwoye last Monday.
"The Centre, under the current management is focussed in its commitment to the holistic transformation of the Centre and would therefore not tolerate any form of distractions from any quarter."
Apart from the Ministry investigation, it was also gathered that an anti corruption agency, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission is also investigating and alleged corruption going on in the FMC, Abeokuta.
In a letter addressed to Medical Director, FMC, Abeokuta, from the Lagos State Office, of ICPC, dated 3rd Dec, 2021 with reference number ICPC/P/SW/LSO/OA/490/2021, titled "Investigation activities/request for document, the Commission seek the attention of the Director of Administration of FMC saying it is investigating a case of alleged violation of the Corrupt Practices and the Other Related Offences Act No. 5, 2000 (1CPC Act).
"In view of the above and pursuant to the provision Sections 28(1)(b)
of the above mention Act, you are hereby requested to inform, release and instruct the Director of Administration to appear before the
Commission at N0-10, Okotie-Eboh Street, off Awolowo Road, South
West, Ikoyi, Lagos. on the 8 December, 2021, by 11:00am prompt. He should come along with the Certified True Copy of the following documents,
"Extracts of the minutes of the Hospital Management Committee Meeting from January 2019 to December 2019. Pay Slips of all the Staff salaries earned by Mr. Musa Mohammed Babatunde between October 2019 - March, 2021. The federal Government Circular No. HSCF/CDO/HRM/POL/402/1
dated 22nd January, 2015.
"He is also expected to come along with the official Stamp of the Federal Medical Centre to enable him certify the documents that had
earlier been submitted to the Commission by the Medical Centre.
The letter was signed by K.F. Elelu, the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner, on behalf The Hon, Chairman.
Our correspondent had earlier learnt that the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission had been petitioned over the matter.
A spokesperson for the ICPC, Azuka Ogugua, said she could not disclose what the agency was doing about the case.
“When we finish and it is made public, you will know,” she added.
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