₦airaland Forum

The Nigeria-Biafra War stories when told in recent years, have been all about the Igbos as victims of the war without any mention of the ethnic minority groups in the now defunct Eastern region who were massacred, raped, their lives & properties destroyed by Biafran Soldiers.

During that needless war, the ethnic minority groups wanted to have no part in it. All they wanted was the creation of States that would set them free from the oppression and domination by the Igbo controlled Eastern region.

Yet, the war was fought in their land and the Ikun people, Ibibio, Annang, Ikwerre, Ijaw, Ogoni, Eleme, Ahoada etc. Were massacred and their women raped after being tagged saboteurs for not accepting to join the biafran rebels led by Ojukwu to fight against Nigeria.

Philip Effiong who didn't really want to be a part of this Biafra secession thing but later joined the Biafra rebels for his own safety and became Ojukwu's 2nd in command, his people were massacred by the Igbos in 1968.

Philip Effiong talked about this in his book.

https://twitter.com/Manlike_ED/status/1399799921788739586?s=19


So I ask, what exactly is this thing you claim the Igbos have done for the Southern Minorities that they have refused to now back you as recompense?

Why did Isaac Adaka Boro rebelled in the old Eastern Region?

zoeA:
With the level of technological development in warfare globally, why can't Nigeria use drones to cut down the number of casualty in these skirmishes going on everywhere...
Like I just heard some herdsmen loaded in a trailer were sighted heading to Ondo... through intel, they would have been neutralized...
I want to get your opinion.

Not the herdsmen in trailers to Ondo news again.

In case you don't know, that rumour was started by a con man who advertised jobs for people to come to Ondo for training
They paid for the training and when they were coming, he started the rumours so he can get away with it. Most outlandish rumours are fake news, spread with the desire to make Nigeria a war zone

More pictures

I don't understand why government should negotiate with people asking for the President to perform an illegality.

Referendum that they are asking for is nowhere in our constitution.

The only way to do it is to get the lawmakers to put it in.

So the president doesn't need to negotiate with IPOB or other secessionist.

They need to negotiate with their lawmakers to make referendum a law.

They are the ones behaving like blind monkeys and not civilised individuals in a modern nation-state.

All these tantrums that's like a baby throwing away its own toys will not work

NovusHomo:
Ogun State folks must ask Governor Abiodun to show his OAU certificate and transcript.

Why? He never claimed he finished from OAU. He attended but didn't finish. Comprehend now?

The Ogun State government says it has concluded plans to host the 2021 Investment Summit tagged ISEYA’ 21 to attract would-be investors for the continued economic growth of the state.

Disclosing this on Thursday, in Abeokuta by the Chief Economic Adviser and State Commissioner for Finance, Dapo Okubadejo, at a virtual Pre-summit Roadshow, said the theme of the summit is “Becoming Africa’s Model Industrial and Logistics Hub”.

Okubadejo, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Planning Committee, explained that the Pre-Summit Roadshow was a form of sensitisation programme in preparation for the summit that will hold between July 13 and 14.

The commissioner said that potential investors would be acquainted with many investment opportunities therein in the state, as the fastest growing economy in the country.

Okubadejo supported by his counterparts from the Ministries of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Kikelomo Longe; Works and Infrastructure, Ade Adesanya; Culture and Tourism, Toyin Taiwo; Budget and Planning, Olaolu Olabimtan and the Director General, Public Private Partnership, Dapo Oduwole, said the Governor Abiodun-led administration is determined to give the state best in governance.

He noted that one of the moves to attract investors into the state was the establishment of the PPP Office to solve the administrative bottlenecks associated with investment.

The finance commissioner noted that lots of reforms and economic policies had been put in place by the administration to enhance the Ease of Doing Business.

‘This Pre-Summit Investment Roadshow is to sensitise locals and foreign investors to showcase the State as investors’ preferred destination of choice.

‘This administration is focused to create an enabling environment for investment to thrive and create good governance, and individual prosperity. The Public-Private Partnership will drive the economy and our ambition is to position Ogun as the fastest growing economy in the country.

‘Our state needs to grow at an average of 25 per cent growth rate per year and we have laid down some of the keys that would make us achieved this. We are targeting the real sector; job creation; poverty eradication, food security among others.

‘We have various reforms such as reforming government institutions, tax reforms, energy reforms just to mention but a few,’ he added.

Okubadejo noted that the state government has made large investments in security to ensure investors operate in a safe environment.

In her submission, Longe said the Investment Summit would be a platform for mutual collaboration between the state government and investors.

She identified Economic Development Clusters; Infrastructure and Agriculture as keys areas that would be focussed on during the two day event.

She further hinted that the website for registration for the Summit will be opened by 12 midnight of Friday, and urged investors to get registered for the programme.


https://www.sunnewsonline.com/ogun-to-host-investment-summit-july-13-14/

So who should we take serious? You?

babyfaceafrica:
Good but it's on the high side. Hope with time, it will go down. You entered at ido? Thanks

Every where in the world, good train transportation is costlier than road, except when subsidised. We never pay fuel subsidy finish, we no fit add rail o

ogododo:
Make he fix Mowe- Ofada road first. One day I dey come Lagos, our motor passed the road, only one half is like 70% good, de order one, potopoto good pass am. Any rail wey no pass Berger - Arepo - Sagamu -Ibadan no make sense now. Ogun should think in that line.

The governor is taking the abandoned projects of Amosun one by one and finishing them. Of course, if na say money dey wella maybe he would have done everything at once. Too many bad roads left by the previous administration.

As for the rail passing Berger instead of Agege, bros, people plenty for the path it is now more than Arepo side o. Enter the train and compare

HellVictorinho:
Should such immunity exist?

That's a good question. Go and meet your Senator or Rep member to remove it

This headline is problematic and an epitome of how the press is part of the people destroying Nigeria.

Suspected Herdsmen is not the same as the headline, which said it emphatically that it was the headline.

That was how they said Herdsmen killed Dr Aborode in Igangan and it turned out it was the PDP that did it.

You guys just want to set this country on fire with misinformation

Ebimor96:
But he has been tweeting

He has constitutional immunity. He literally cam kill you and won't go to jail

biafranrealson:
Bmc sighted
Focus on igangan for now
Hope you have seen that pic of a man carrying his burnt baby.

I normally don't reply Nnamdi Kanu's people, but Yorùbás seeing this thread must know that the said picture is from Cameroon. As usual, fake news peddlers (I didn't mention FFK o) are deliberately sowing seeds of discords to ensure we go to war.

May they continually fail.

One Michael Sunday has allegedly stabbed a 45-year-old bricklayer, Avonse Abraham, to death in the Alli Isiba area of Sango-Ota, Ogun State, over a N20,000 debt.

It was gathered that Abraham was returning from work on Saturday when he was accosted around the Faith Chapel junction area of Alli Isiba Street by Sunday, who allegedly stabbed him with a broken bottle.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the father of three owed the suspect’s mother the sum of N50,000 out of which he had paid N30,000.

However, his failure to pay the balance infuriated Sunday, who allegedly stabbed him with a broken bottle.

An eyewitness, who identified himself simply as Wale, told our correspondent that the suspect had beaten the deceased with a plank earlier before Saturday’s incident.

He said, “The deceased owed the mother of his killer N50,000 and had paid N30,000 out of it when Sunday hit him with a plank for refusing to settle the balance. Sunday was sitting on a fence with a friend called Asa when he sighted the victim on Saturday night and accosted him while holding a bottle.

“He insisted that the deceased must pay the balance that night, but the man said he had no such money and that he would pay up on Tuesday, but Sunday broke the bottle and stabbed the man in the hand; the victim attempted to run away and Sunday stabbed him again in the upper part of his body.

“He also scared people, who attempted to rescue the man, telling them that he wanted to see who was ready to die for Abraham.”

Another resident of the area, who identified himself simply as Kehinde, said the deceased was taken to four hospitals but was rejected, and when he was eventually taken to the General Hospital at Onipanu, he was pronounced dead.

He stated, “The man owed Sunday’s mother N50,000 for a building foundation and he paid N30,000 last week after Sunday threatened to deal with him, but on Saturday, the suspect attacked the man when he was coming back from work and stabbed him.

“We took the man to four hospitals and they rejected him and we finally took him to the General Hospital in Onipanu, where the doctors pronounced him dead. Sunday is a violent person; just two weeks ago, he threatened to attack one of the landlords in the area called Elite over an argument between them.”

Our correspondent learnt that the suspect and his mother were arrested and detained at the Sango Divisional Police Station.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, did not take his calls and had not replied a text message sent to his mobile telephone as of the time of filing this report.


https://punchng.com/ogun-man-stabs-bricklayer-to-death-over-n20000-debt/

“And my son, he’s the first in his class. That is what is paining me about this country. When you see merit, you want to kill it. It is mediocrity that we want to celebrate. Because of my son’s brilliance, they gave him a scholarship. When this boy comes back, he will be repairing equipment,” he added.

His lawyer said an extant regulation empowered the medical director to send workers on courses, especially in areas where the institution had needs.

On the issue of the refurbished CT scanner, the MD said he used his reputation and goodwill to secure grants of about $600,000 for the centre, adding that the money was used to procure different equipment for the hospital.

His lawyer said the refurbished machine was bought as a unanimous decision of the board, which included Musa-Olomo.

According to him, the procurement processes in government establishments require the involvement of several people.

“When he came on board, the discussion came about how to procure a brand new CT scanner, which would have come at a double price of the amount they paid for this one. They had a consultant, who advised them that since the institution did not have money to bankroll a new one, they should buy this one. They agreed to buy the used one,” he added.

On the alleged employment of over 1,700 workers, the MD said he followed due process.

He recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, many hospital staff, including nurses, doctors and other health attendants, resigned and left the country.

“If I did these things illegally, will the IPPIS come to capture them from Abuja? I would have also received queries from the authorities who are paying the salaries,” he added.

Musa-Olomu noted that he caught and reported the doctors involved in job racketeering at the hospital, adding that he also raised the panel that probed them.

“If I was the one behind it, will I do that?” he queried.

According to his lawyer, the IPPIS comes to the centre twice in a year.

He explained that workers not captured in the data seen by our correspondent would still be recorded before the end of the year.

Oyedele accused the board chairman of concocting the final report of the board, saying he would report him for professional misconduct and forgery.

He insisted that the report did not represent the findings of the committee.

Our correspondent 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.

https://punchng.com/updated-ogun-fmc-boss-battles-alleged-age-discrepancy-fraud-blames-detractors/

Refurbished CT scan

The PUNCH gathered that a 64-slice CT scanner was bought by the hospital at N230m and installed on May 7, 2018. The hospital was said to have been billed N235m for the medical equipment and is still owing N5m.

It was, however, allegedly discovered that the scanner had been used on patients elsewhere before it was brought and installed at the hospital.

In about four months after installation, the machine broke down due to power surge.


The gadget supplier, Dr Ben Itsuokor, was said to have been interviewed by the board in a telephone conversation.

Itsokor, who is based in London, United Kingdom, said the scanner got damaged due to “wrong specification of the UPS jointly given by the contractor’s engineers.”

However, the board chairman was said to have confronted him with the different dates of manufacturing of the machine components.

The board then wondered why an old CT scanner was bought at the cost of a brand new one.

A document obtained by our correspondent stated that on January 15, 2020, the board decided that the supplier should repair the machine at his own cost.

However, The PUNCH gathered that the scanner was repaired with money drawn from the hospital’s account.

The board, in its recommendation, demanded an audit of the circumstances of the transaction and why the hospital’s funds were used to repair the refurbished CT scanner.

Our correspondent called Itsuokor’s UK line many times on Monday to react to the allegation, but he did not take his calls.

There was also no response to messages sent to him on WhatsApp, which were read as indicated by the double blue tick.

nvestigation by The PUNCH shows that the CT scanner has different components made in China and the United States of America.

Some parts were manufactured in 2006, others in 2009.

A label on the machine said it is the property of “Ruthland Regional Medical Centre”, a community hospital in the US.

A faint pen marker indicated that the scanner might have been in use since January 27, 2010.

Vertu Medical, a London, United Kingdom-based diagnostic imaging company, in an article it published on its website on October 20, 2020, stated that a refurbished 64-slice CT scanner cost between £80,000 and £120,000.


As of May 2018 when the FMC machine was supplied, the exchange rate was N480 to £1 at the interbank market.

At £120,000, the refurbished scanner may have been bought for N57,600,000.

Block Imaging, a diagnostic company based in Michigan, United States of America, in an article it also published on its website on August 8, 2019, titled, ‘GE CT scanner cost,’ said a refurbished VCT 64 sells for between $120,000 and $140,000.

As of May 2018, $1 was N361 at the interbank market.

At $140,000, the refurbished machine cost N50,540,000.

From the two different companies and their estimates, the refurbished GE CT scanner and installation fees could not have cost more than N60m.

A top official of GE West Africa, who spoke to The PUNCH, said only a brand new CT scanner cost N235m.

Employment without due process

Documents obtained by our correspondent revealed that as of December 2018, six months after Musa-Olomu became the MD, the hospital nominal roll stood at 2,590.

However, by April 30, 2021, the total number of staff paid by the hospital was 4,303.

This means between December 2018 and April 2021, the FMC Abeokuta, had employed 1,713 workers.

Our correspondent gathered that between the time of Musa-Olomu’s appointment and now, more than 2,000 people had been employed by the hospital.

Financial records of the hospital obtained by The PUNCH revealed that as of April 2021, the hospital paid about N933m as salaries.

Between February and April 2021, the hospital spent N2.3bn on salaries, which included workers on the IPPIS and those not captured on the IPPIS.

An anonymous group in the hospital, Concerned Health Workers Citizens, accused Musa-Olomu of not complying with public service rules and circulars on guidelines for appointment into Federal Public Service.

“He solely recruited the personnel without any internal/external manpower, planning and budgeting, advertisement publications, recruitment interviews, and procedural approvals from relevant MDAs. Not even recourse to the board of management, which is the body saddled with that responsibility,” the group said.

The PUNCH noted that a committee set up by the hospital discovered that there was also a syndicate in the hospital bringing in workers indiscriminately.

A three-man committee, consisting of Dr Fidelis Ojeblenu (Chairman), Mr Paul Olutunde (Member) and Mr Segun Orisajo (Secretary), fingered two doctors at the hospital as leaders of the syndicate.

The doctors, according to the committee, collected money from those seeking employment and offered them appointment letters.

In its findings dated January 2021, the committee said, “No apparent screening of candidates. If there is any at all, it is limited to the office of the medical director and part of the admin.

“The committee noted the existence of a syndicate in the system which operates by engaging prospective candidates mainly through phone and all transactions are concluded on phone. Payments are made either by transfer or through faceless individuals usually not revealed to the candidates.

“Confirmation of payment is made before the appointment letter is handed over to the candidate or his/her proxy. The candidate hardly knows the identities of members of the group. This trend has been going on for some time now.”

The committee identified five members of the syndicate at the hospital, which included establishment and admin officers and a clerical officer in the MD’s office.

It recommended them for sanctions ranging from redeployment to letters of warning and suspension.

Health ministry shuns board’s report

Our correspondent gathered that the FMC board’s report on the different allegations against Musa-Olomu and its recommendations were forwarded to the Ministry of Health for action.

The PUNCH learnt that the ministry, however, jettisoned the report.

Based on a circular from the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, only the ministry can approve disciplinary action against the chief executive officer of any government parastatal.

Our correspondent learnt that the Chairman of the FMC board, Mahuta, sent several letters and reminders to Abuja, seeking the suspension of Musa-Olomu, all to no avail.

Instead, the ministry responded to petitions addressed to it on the matter.

A letter obtained by our correspondent and signed by the Secretary, Investigative Committee, Ministry of Health, Ajayi Olajumoke, showed that the FMC Head of Administration was invited to answer questions on the matter.

The letter, titled, ‘Falsification of Age and Other Petitions Against Prof. Adewale Musa-Olomu, Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta: Invitation to Appear Before an Investigative Committee,’ was dated May 7, 2021.

A source said the board was disappointed that the ministry did not act on its report.

“The board filed its report and wrote a letter to the Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, presenting all the evidence with public service rules that were breached. This was done in April 2021, and we wrote at least three reminders to the ministry. But the board was ignored.

“In March, we requested permission from the minister to suspend the MD pending the determination of the case against him. Instead, the board received a reply from an assistant state minister of health that we should go and reconcile ourselves.

“We said how could we do this when we did not initiate the petitions? We are not fighting the MD. The board said that if that is their response, they should put it into writing, but no response,” the source said.

Division in FMC board

The FMC board constituted a five-man committee on March 24, 2021 after it received petitions against the MD.

The committee consisted of a representative of public interest, Elder Gabriel Akpan, who was the Chairman; the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Olutomi Coker; representative of professional bodies, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaji; representative of public interest, Alhaji Tijani Momoh, while a representative of the Federal Ministry of Health, Mr Evans Udoekane, served as secretary

The panel looked into several allegations against Musa-Olomu, including “falsification of age, abuse of office, and procurement and installation of a used CT scanner.”

On April 12, 2021, a report that was jointly signed by the team members (except the commissioner who reportedly attended the meeting once) was forwarded to the hospital board to signify completion of the assignment.

The PUNCH observed that the committee’s report was reviewed by the hospital’s board.

Some amendments were made to the document and a final report emerged with six signatures dated April 16, 2021.

The final report was signed by the Chairman, Board of Management, Mahuta; Deputy Chairman, Benedict Godson; members, Alhaji Bukar Damaturu, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaji, Dr F.E. Ojeblenu and Mr A.O. Vaughan.

Two other members, Dr Betiku Benson and Dr Sarah Usman, had virtual participation and were said to have concurred with the report.

However, the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Coker; the representative of the Federal Ministry of Health, Udoekanem; and representative of public interest, Momoh, were not present at the meeting.

The committee chairman, Akpan, also “took official permission to meet a flight schedule.”

The PUNCH reached out to the four members to ascertain why they did not sign the document.

The health commissioner, Coker, said she had yet to receive any report and could not comment.

Momoh, however, said the fact-finding committee cleared the MD of all the allegations.

While accusing the board chairman of doctoring the final report, he alleged that Mahuta was nursing vendetta against the MD for not granting a financial request.

He said, “We did our job thoroughly as a committee and at the end of the day, the MD was exonerated on all the charges. But the chairman got annoyed and said he must be indicted by force. He went into his hotel room and told the director of admin to send the secretary from his office to him, who now sat with him and changed the report to his own taste.

“The board chairman and the MD were close friends. He was always praising the MD. So, I was wondering why it was now that he wanted us to indict the MD even when it was clear we could not go beyond our limit. He said the past endorsements he made were politics.”

Momoh said he later led a delegation to the office of the minister of state and gave him the “true picture of what happened”.

He alleged that the chairman demanded N5m for surgery from Musa-Olomu, adding that he became disgruntled when the latter gave him only N2.5m.

Udoekanem, who declined comment on the matter, said he aligned himself with the committee chairman, Akpan.

Akpan told our correspondent that he had done his job, adding that the final report was at the discretion of the board.

When our correspondent confronted him with the allegations by Momoh, he said the board was not bound to adopt verbatim the committee’s report.

“They can choose to pick an extract from what we did and send it to the ministry; they cannot just send what we submitted,” he added.

The Board Chairman, Mahuta, denied doctoring the report in his hotel room, saying there were minutes to show the report was a collective decision.

He told The PUNCH that Coker, Udoekanem and Akpan agreed with the final report.

According to him, Momoh only attends board meetings to collect sitting allowance without making contributions to deliberations.

He said the board, while reviewing the committee’s report, discovered gaps and mistakes and spent three days “re-doing their work because it was a lousy job and because they were bought by the MD.”

“After we were done with the final report, everybody agreed that we did the right thing. The health commissioner, we exchanged communications through telephone and she agreed. The committee chairman, the committee secretary, also agreed. Everybody was in alliance before the report was sent to the ministry,” he added.

Responding to the allegation of financial request from the MD, Mahuta said he had a heart disease and “spinal issues” that required surgery.

He explained that late 2020, he was advised to inform Musa-Olomu about his medical condition.

“I told him and he asked how much the bill was and I said N5.3m. He said the hospital would sponsor the operation and I thanked him.

“He gave me N2m in bits – N500,000 each time. The money is there and I will do the surgery in Kano. I decided to do it in Nigeria because as a consultant neurologist myself and an active Katsina politician, I was with Buhari and we promised the public to stand by them. There is no way I will collect money from Nigeria and go abroad to do my surgery. What he gave me was a privilege and not a right. So, why should I victimize somebody because he did not give me a privilege?” the chairman said.

Committee report vs board report

Our correspondent obtained the committee’s report, dated April 12, 2021, and signed by Akpan, Momoh, Gaji and Udoekenem.

The PUNCH compared the report with the document sent to the ministry by the board.

Our correspondent observed that they sharply contrasted in their conclusion on allegations bordering on “age falsification, abuse of office and purchase of a refurbished CT scanner.”

On age alteration, the committee said the issue was complex, adding that it lacked “resources and statutory right” to investigate the criminal aspect. However, the board indicted Musa-Olomu, citing different public service rules and circulars.

On abuse of office in which the MD employed his son and granted him leave in less than a year of appointment, the committee said the N2,476,755 paid to Babatunde as salaries had already been refunded to the treasury. It tagged the allegation of abuse of office as frivolous and baseless. But the board stated that the appointment had yet to be confirmed when Babatunde enjoyed the benefit, adding that the approval did not follow due process.

On the purchase of a used CT scan machine at the price of a new one, the committee concluded that the petitioner was misinformed, saying the device developed a fault due to the fluctuating power in the place it was installed. It noted that the scanner had been fixed and was serving its purpose and termed the allegation as “mere fabrication and unguarded rumour.” However, the board decried the price of the machine and demanded an audit of the circumstances of its purchase.

FMC medical director, lawyer react

The PUNCH contacted the Managing Director, Musa-Olomu, and his lawyer, Fatai Oyedele, on the allegations and the report of the board.

Musa-Olomu told our correspondent that the matter had been ongoing since November 2020, adding that his accusers wanted him to lose his second term in office.

He alleged that some consultants at the hospital bribed board members with as much as N20m to chase him out of office.

On the age alteration, he said, “I was never indicted for age falsification. In fact, the committee set up by the board exonerated me.”

His lawyer, Oyedele, said the first declaration of age was sworn to in 1976 when Musa-Olomu was in Primary 6.

He explained that when he realised his true age, he had already left the service of the OOUTH in 2017, where he was the head of the department of medicine and surgery.

“In 2009 when he was not in the service of any government parastatal, it became known that the earlier age declaration was done in error. As of that time, he was seen to be older than his elder sister. That was when his father told him that there was a mistake in the age declaration done by his mother. His father then deposed to another age declaration before a Kisi Customary Court.

“The public service rule is that if any civil servant is to do any age declaration, it must predate his employment into the civil service. The 2009 age declaration was done before he secured employment with the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital in 2010 and University of Ilorin in 2011. In 2017, he was appointed MD of the medical centre. So, even in the eye of the law, the subsequent age declaration was done without any intention to get any benefit. His elder sister retired from the Ogun State Hospital Management Board in 2020 at the age of 60 and he cannot be seen to be older than her,” he added.

On abuse of office, the MD said he acted based on his discretion and the need of the medical centre.

He explained that several other medical officers had been sent on training by the management without anyone raising an eyebrow.

“The ministry says technology is improving and we are acquiring a lot of medical equipment, but when they bring them, there is nobody to repair them. So, why don’t you employ biomedical engineers?

“My son had interest in it and was to be trained in Germany. What I did to the people I mentioned earlier was what we did to him. We did not give him any scholarship. We were only paying (his) salaries like others. But when I saw the petition, I just said he should go and refund the salaries he collected.

“And my son, he’s the first in his class. That is what is paining me about this country. When you see merit, you want to kill it. It is mediocrity that we want to celebrate. Because of my son’s brilliance, they gave him a scholarship. When this boy comes back, he will be repairing equipment,” he added.

https://punchng.com/updated-ogun-fmc-boss-battles-alleged-age-discrepancy-fraud-blames-detractors/

In this special report, SAMSON FOLARIN investigates the crisis at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State

A multifaceted corruption scandal is threatening to tear the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State, apart. The FMC is one of the South-West most important tertiary health institutions.

At the centre of the raging storm is its Medical Director, Prof. Adewale Musa-Olomu, who was accused of irregularity in date of birth and abuse of office.

The PUNCH gathered that Musa-Olomu took over the reins of leadership of the hospital on June 1, 2017 for a term of four years.

His letter of appointment was issued and signed by a former Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, who was in charge of the nation’s health sector at the time.

However, the tenure of the medical practitioner was reported to have been fraught with varying allegations.

Aside the controversy around 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 study leave in a European country, with pay.

Worthy of note is the fact that the board members were divided over the allegations against the MD.

Documents seen by this reporter indicated that within the period that Musa-Olomu was the MD, the hospital’s payroll increased with over 1,700 workers.

The PUNCH also learnt that the hospital bought a refurbished Computerised Tomography (CT) scanner, but at the price of a new one.

The machine, bought with N230m, was said to have developed a fault four months after installation.

Musa-Olomu, who denied the allegations, said the issues were being brought up by his detractors who wanted to deny him a second term in office.

The embattled medical director, who accused the hospital’s board of compromise, said he had proof that those behind his indictment were paid huge sums of money to bring him down.

Age irregularity

The PUNCH reliably gathered that the Abeokuta-South, Ogun State indigene, has two different declarations of age documents.

Information on the official website of the FMC, Abeokuta, where Musa-Olomu’s profile was displayed, showed that he had his residency training in General Surgery at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State.

He later joined the services of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in 1999.

Records at both hospitals revealed that he was born on January 6, 1960.

In fact, he wrote the date of birth himself on an application form to be a consultant surgeon at OOUTH.

A declaration of age document, dated February 24,1978, sworn to at the High Court of Justice, Abeokuta, Ogun State, and obtained by our correspondent, also confirmed that he was born on that day.


However, his record at the University of Ilorin, from where he joined the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, showed that he was born on January 6, 1964.

A statutory declaration of age, sworn to at the Customary Court, Kisi, Oyo State, said the new change occurred on March 2, 2009.

According to an FMC official, Musa-Olomu has now adopted 1964 as his new year of birth.

He noted that without the adjustment, the MD would have attained 60, the mandatory service age of retirement, in 2020.

Indeed, two persons, identified as Mr Abdulahi Abiodun and Mr Sunday Anisere, petitioned the FMC’s board of management, drawing its attention to the discrepancy.

The hospital’s board, led by Dr Abdulaziz Mahuta, while acting on the two separate petitions, set up a committee to look into the allegation of age alteration, among several others.

The five-man panel started its assignment on March 24, 2021, and concluded its report on April 12, 2021, holding both physical and virtual meetings.

Musa-Olomu, in his defence before the committee, claimed that the 1960 year of birth was the record given by his mother, while 1964 was the record of his father.

He also explained that as a university professor, he was covered by Section 4 of the University Acts, adding that his retirement age had moved to 70.

However, the committee’s report, reviewed by the board, showed that the MD started his secondary school in 1973.

It averred that Musa-Olomu, based on the 1960 record, began his secondary school at 13, while the 1964 date he switched to “for reasons best known to him” would mean he started at nine.

According to the board, the FMC, Abeokuta, is not a university, and Musa-Olomu’s appointment to the post of medical director is under the Federal Ministry of Health, which is governed by Public Service Rules.

It said there was enough evidence that Musa-Olomu “tampered with his age.”

“The fact that there are two different dates of birth used in his career progression contravenes the extant circular ref. No. HCSF/PSO/004/T/66 dated 3rd February, 2009 (vide Annexures VIII). The incumbent should be made to realise the implications of his actions within the purview of the law, especially the administrative and legal consequences,” the board added.

The cited document, which was signed by a former Permanent Secretary, Ammuna Lawal-Alli, for the Head of Service of the Federation, forbids alteration in date of birth.

The board also said the action was a breach of Section 020108 of the Public Service Rules (2008), which read, “Date of birth recorded on appointment by an officer shall not be changed throughout the career of the officer. Any contravention shall be regarded as an act of serious misconduct.”

Abuse of office

The PUNCH gathered that Musa-Olomu’s son, Babatunde, was employed as an engineer in the works department of the hospital on October 19, 2018.

Eleven months after his employment, the MD allegedly approved him for a study leave in a German university.

The leave was with pay.

According to Public Service Rule 100223, study leave is to be granted to a confirmed serving officer.

Investigations conducted by the hospital’s board showed that four other officers were granted leave to study: two outside the country and two in the country, around the same time.

Out of the three going outside the country, only Babatunde’s leave was with pay.

Due to the petition of abuse of office against Musa-Olomu, his son was said to have refunded the salaries – N2.4m – which he collected during the period.

https://punchng.com/updated-ogun-fmc-boss-battles-alleged-age-discrepancy-fraud-blames-detractors/

You literally mentioned the name of the leader of the attack and you claim they are "unknown". Okay o. Who no know go know

A suspected kidnapper was shot dead during a gun duel between a gang of kidnappers and policemen in Ogun State.

Men of Ogun State Police Command killed the suspect in Mologede Area of Odeda Local Government Area of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi disclosed this on Saturday.

Oyeyemi said the incident happened on Friday after policemen received a distress call.

The PPRO explained that a distress call was received by the Divisional Police Officer, Bode Olude Divisional Headquarters at about 12 noon on Friday.

He said “The police were told that a tipper driver had been kidnapped by a group of people suspected to be herdsmen.

“Upon the distress call, the DPO Bode Olude Division, DSP Durojaye Rotimi, mobilized his men, the local hunters, men of So-Safe-Corps as well as policemen from adjoining police stations and moved to the area.

“While combing the bush, the kidnappers were sighted in the forest where they engaged the policemen in a gun battle.

“In the process, one of the kidnappers was shot on the leg, while others escaped with various degrees of gunshot injuries, while the victim was rescued unhurt.

“One single barrel gun was recovered from them, while the suspect gave up the ghost on the way to the hospital.”

The PPRO, however, said the Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun who commended his men for their display of gallantry, ordered a massive manhunt for the fleeing members of the gang.

Oyeyemi said Ajogun also applauded the support given to the police by men of So-Safe corps, Hunters, and Odua People Congress, and sought for the continuation of such cooperation.

https://punchng.com/one-dead-as-police-kidnappers-clash-in-ogun/

By Segun Odegbami

Professor Wole Soyinka surrounded by students during his visit to Segun Odegbami International College and Sports Academy, Wasimi Orile, Ogun State


The late sage, Dr. Tai Solarin, confessed in his article that I re-published last week, that Samuel Ogbemudia, the first governor of former Mid West State, would have summarily sacked him as head of any school in the State because of his “negative attitude towards games and sports” . In his opinion students wasted their time in athletics and football pursuits instead of expending their physical energies for “more production of physical facilities for education and food”.
He was to learn later that the work ethics of Ogbemudia as well as the unprecedented development of the Mid West State were achieved through the instrumentality of sport and its inherent values.

Professor Wole Soyinka, the first citizen of the Autonomous Republic of Ijegba, teacher, writer and social activist, Nobel Laureate and one of the most respected Nigerians alive, would not even have been employed by Ogbemudia in those days, to start with.



Like Tai Solarin, sport is not one of his known favourite interests or pastimes. Kongi discussed in his books, plays, speeches and numerous lectures almost every subject under the sun, with the exception of sport.

Why does Kongi not take any liking to the most followed and most passionate activity in the world – sport?
I have the strong feeling that he does not consider athletics and football of substantial benefit to Nigeria, a country beset with too many other complex problems, the least of which is sport. He may even have thought of sport as a national distraction, another one of Nigeria’s numerous and avoidable problems. He would ordinarily think that sport and scholarship belong in the same planet. Thats my feeling. 8

Some years ago, I was part of an audience at a book-fair event held in the main hall of the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, in Abeokuta. Professor Wole Soyinka was the special guest and speaker at the event. During the Q and A session, I was one of many that raised their hands to ask him questions related to his speech and the subject. I was obliged, I guess, because the occasion and I made an interesting contrast, and the moderator must have been excited at the prospective spectacle of a sportsman asking a question on literature and the arts.

I confidently took the microphone, and introduced myself. The loud ovation was of recognition for the sportsman. I had no famous links to academics, literature or the arts. How I longed to let them into my world, what I knew about how sport and its links to most aspects of life, particularly leisure, health, education and entertainment, of which culture, arts, music, dance, poetry, literature and sports. But this was no time for a lecture. I was to ask a question!

I could not help but notice the dead-pan look of non-recognition on the face of a god we ‘worshipped’ on the altar of academic scholarship went I rose to speak. My ego was slightly deflated. The great Kongi did not show any sign he recognised me.

I was actually, deep down in my heart, seeking his attention and validation for what I was doing in society through sport that I believed he had little knowledge of. I did not have a question directly related to the event to ask him. I was only going to play devil’s advocate for a change and get him to talk sport. I had one minute to do so.



I meandered through an introductory speech about how I asked him a question in an article I wrote in the newspapers and published in my last of four books I had written. I was show boating. Sport can be an important tool for all-round development if only people will look beneath its surface. It can be used to reach and impact a whole planet of youths, and change a society. It was apparent I was blabbing and talking too much. Abruptly, I stopped. I wanted seize the opportunity of the moment to repeat the question in my book that has remained unanswered. I wanted to diffuse the ‘seriousness’ in the hall and make a joke that would put a smile on faces, including that of the now-scrutinising Professor.

I asked: “Can Wole Soyinka play football?”
The hall went silent. I walked back to my seat and sank into it, and waited.
The silence in the hall was deafening.
Ha, I must have goofed. It question must have been considered dumb by the Guru. There wasn’t even the slightest tinge of a smile across his heavily White-bearded face. I don’t think he even heard my question because his response, when it eventually came, was as far away from the question as Kaora Namoda is from Wasimi Orile.

Prof. obviously had no time for trivia, and this was one.
What I could read ‘scripted’ on his face as he spoke were boredom and a dismissal. I had just wasted valuable time asking the dumbest of questions. He simply sidestepped it. It reminded me of Messi, side stepping crunchy tackles, gba bi, ma gba be.

He talked away from any mention of football, or sport, the audience licking everything that came out of his mouth like candy, leaving me stewing in my personal Limbo, buried deep in my seat, angry with myself.

That was the moment I made up my mind to, somehow, get the Kongi to come down to human level of sport, and to, hopefully, start to see and appreciate the sector and how important it is in my own humble estimation.



Sport can be a contributor to scholarship and the building process of a new Nigeria. Sport needs his voice to strengthen our resolve to see it become a priority area of governments, an important ingredient and critical tool for national integration, unity, our humanity, urban development, health, international diplomacy, the environment, youth engagement, education, job creation, economic contribution, infrastructural development, and empowerment of the youth. Nelson Mandela, another global figure, could not have been flippant when he once said:
‘Sport has the power to change the world’.

I needed to get the ‘greatest’ scholar and teacher to pay a visit to the model sports and education academy I had established, to see it, and to meet with the little boys and girls in the laboratory of learning and of instruction. The evidences of the success of SOCA are around the campus of the institution where sports and academics have been successfully co-habiting for 14 years, and producing phenomenal and measurable results and products.

I wrote and invited Professor WS to SOCA, the Segun Odegbami International College and Sports Academy. He knew who I was, of course, but nothing about the school. He must have assumed, like most Nigerians do, that it is an institution where children wasted their youthful years playing football, with a handful of them succeeding to berth in top professional clubs in Europe, and the vast majority failing to accomplish much except to add to the ugly statistics of a sector that is littered with painful stories of eventual idleness, joblessness, penury, neglect disregard, and the suffering of neglected sports heroes.

No, no, no, things are not that gloomy and dire. There is a bright and untapped world out there, an economically booming world that can accommodate and flourish the lives of a sea of young boys and girls gifted in sports, but combining it with proper education.

Prof. responded to my invitation and promised to find some time away from his global talking and teaching engagements to visit the academy. That was some three or four years ago.

Then the pandemic struck. Through Tunde Kelani, I had the opportunity to remind him again personally. This time he made a firm commitment to come and see for himself the paradise I told him I was creating.

Last Thursday, a special day selected by him for its significance, he fulfilled his promise and came to share the United Nations International Children’s Day with the lucky students and staff of the Segun Odegbami International College and Sports Academy, SOCA. Parents and a few friends were present to witness the uncommon meeting held on the green lush, immacutely landed sports grounds within the campus in Wasimi Orile.



What a day it turned out to be, worth all the years it took to wait for it to happen. It was an extraordinary experience for the students in particular, and just as I had expected, also for Professor Wole Soyinka.

Tunde Kelani, a ‘minister’ in the Autonomous Republic of Ijegba, a student and disciple of the sage, swore he had not seen the revered Professor as relaxed, happy and completely at home as he saw him in the serenity of Wasimi.

Prof. fell in love instantly with the environment and atmosphere of the school. It was a very simple and uncomplicated event. The three short hours he spent on the campus was a breeze.

He was welcomed by the staff of the school, and taken on a quick tour of the academic facilities (library, IT centre, classrooms, dormitory and laboratories). To walk an 85-year old man around a sprawling 22-acre campus to see its sports facilities was unnecessary and would have been most unkind. As, I pointed out those to him from a distance.

Then he met with the student-athletes, under a canopy in the manicured grounds. He listened to one of them, a 16-year old boy, deliver what was a masterful welcome speech, mostly extempore. Prof described the young lad as a future great orator. He was very impressed.

He watched a cultural performance and a small drama sketch put up by the students, for which he had commendation as a well as useful criticism.

As the students retired to their dormitories, the staff, parents and some invited friends also ‘retired’ to the Rufus Orisayomi Bamboo Grove for the traditional Wasimi Orile hospitality, a feast of the freshest palm wine certified by Kongi himself as vintage Amos Tutuola, author of ‘the Palmwine Drinkard’, plus asun grilled meat from young lamb reared in the rolling wooded hills of Wasimi.



At the end if it all, in his closing remarks on his experience, Kongi had this to say: “I am glad that I finally came to see this school and appreciate what’s going on here. I have thoroughly enjoyed my stay here, and assure you that I shall come again”.

My mission was accomplished. I got Professor Wole Soyinka to make his first visitation to a sports institution and secured his endorsement that Sports and Academics can co-habit successfully in empowering the youths and advancing the cause of humanity.

In recalling that experience permit me to quote an English Language adage coined by Henrik Ibsen: ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’.

The attached picture of Kongi, with the students of SOCA surrounding him, celebrating the unique experience of this most private of visitations by the great Nobel Laureate, in his full and unguarded element, speaks more than a thousand words.


https://guardian.ng/sport/when-sports-and-wole-soyinka-meet-on-the-green-fields-of-wasimi-orile/

The Ogun State Public Works Agency (OGPWA), has commenced the repairs of another phase of township roads in the three Senatorial Districts of the State, just as 62 roads were recently completed.

The General Manager of the Agency, Arch. Gbenga Akintola, made this known in an interview with journalists in Abeokuta.

He said the roads include Salawu Olabode avenue Ewang Estate, Ago Ika-Agura-Kobiti junction, Bajomo street, Ayetoro garage, Lafenwa, Somorin-Iyangbu, Orile Ifo, Ifo all in Ogun Central.

Arch. Akintola added that in Ogun West, Okede Palace road, Ota, Eggua-Igbogila road, and Prof. Asiwaju Road, Imeko, have also been considered for rehabilitation, while others like Ereko, Ijebu-Ode, Ijari-Erunwon-Ilese Barrack, Odogbolu-Aiyepe, Tasued Internal, Asaiye, Sagamu, Awolowo way, Ikenne, General Hospital, Iperu and Iperu-Ilisan roundabout, in Ogun East are also receiving repairs.

The General Manager stated that the Agency was poised to repair and re-habilitate roads as possible, expressing delight at the unrelenting effort by the present administration in the provision of good road network across the State.

https://startrendinternational.com/ogpwa-commences-another-phase-of-road-repairs-cautions-road-users/

Cc lalasticlala Mynd44

Both the teaching and non-teaching staff of the D. S Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, Ewekoro, Ogun State on Thursday, scampered for safety following the sporadic gunshots in the premises.

Our correspondent gathered that the sound of gunshots was heard shortly after the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Ogun State chapter gained entry into the premises of the institution.

It was gathered that the incident rekindled the last year assassination of one of the lecturers in the school which happened at the gate.

The incident happened 24 hours after students blocked the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway to protest against the management over examination matters.

A video that had gone viral showed how the protesters humiliated the Special Assistant to the State Governor on Students Matters, Azeez Adeyemi during the protest.

It was learnt that NANS had been factionalised into two groups with Adeyemi leading one of the factions.

Further findings revealed that the visit of NANS loyal to Adeyemi was seen as an attempt to launch a reprisal attack on the other faction.

A source told our correspondent that both teaching and non-teaching staff became agitated following the sound of gunshots and scampered for safety.

According to the source, “Nobody knows what is going to happen next to any staff in the institution as the situation is getting serious by the day.”

The NANS leaders reportedly stormed the institution in a tinted Jeep with NASS number plate.

They allegedly blocked a gate that led to the entrance of the Rector’s office.

Gunshot rocks Ogun poly, lecturers fleeWhen contacted, NANS chairman, Damilola Simeon denied knowing anything about the shooting.

He confirmed that there was sound of gunshots shortly after he and his team arrived at the campus.

Explaining the rationale behind the visit, he said he was in the school at the invitation of the Acting Rector, Job-Kehinde Olatunji.

“I received a call from the Rector who told me the management and the students have reached an agreement over the last protest. I went there to meet with the Rector,” he said.

The Public Relations Officer of the institution, Yinka Adegbite said there was no casualty.

He said, “The NANS EXCO in Ogun State led by their Chairman, Comrade Damilola Simeon came to register their displeasure over how their chairman was treated yesterday. The matter of yesterday became a mob action, nobody could point out who attacked their chairman.

“But in any case, the chairman was reportedly attacked, and so they came this morning to register their displeasure. While we were inside discussing with them, we heard the loud bangs outside.

“We didn’t see any gun, and so I can’t say much. When people heard the sound, they got scared and assumed it was gunshot

https://punchng.com/gunshot-rocks-ogun-poly-lecturers-flee/

The National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS) on Wednesday commended Gov. Dapo Abiodun for paying bursary to indigenes of the state studying in various tertiary institutions across the country.

Mr Gbemileke Ogunrombi, the National President, NAOSS, gave the commendation during a press conference in Abeokuta.

Ogunrombi appreciated the state governor for keeping to his promise, saying that the bursary payment came eight years after previous administrations stopped it.

He said the payment would go a long way in motivating the students to focus on their studies.

He said, “I am glad to inform you that the Ogun State Government has commenced the payment of bursary to students who are indigenes of the state studying in various tertiary institutions across the country.”

He said that the beneficiaries of the bursary were those whose data had been captured by their various institutions and sent to the government for payment.

He implored other students who were yet to provide the government with their data to do so as soon as possible.

Ogunrombi noted that the governor’s gesture had restored the faith and trust that students once had in government.

He expressed displeasure with the state ministry of education for bypassing and shutting out the association in the process of collating the data of students and payment of the bursary.

“According to the government, about 276,000 students who are indigenes of Ogun have been captured for the bursary payment.

“The association wonders how the government got the figures. The government, through the ministry of education, ought to have carried the association along in the process.

“We fear that with this, Ogun students who truly deserve the bursary might not get what is rightfully due to them,” he said.

Ogunrombi said that NAOSS as the representative of Ogun students had put measures in place to monitor the payment of the bursary to deserving students.

He said that the state governor had particularly turned the fortunes of education in the state around for good and also performed creditably in other sectors.

https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2021/06/02/ogun-students-laud-abiodun-over-bursary-payment/

Cc lalasticlala Mynd44

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