Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has directed the arrest and prosecution of six employees from the State Ministry of Health over allegations of diverting materials meant for use in government hospitals.
The governor made the decision after personally uncovering what he described as a blatant act of sabotage against the state’s health sector.
The incident occurred during an unannounced inspection of projects, where Governor Nwifuru observed a Toyota Dyana truck being loaded with hospital registers, patient data forms, and other materials from the ministry’s warehouse. Dissatisfied with the explanations provided by the workers present, the governor delved deeper into the matter and discovered that these materials, essential for the efficient operation of rural hospitals, were being moved without authorization.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the items had already been sold without any official approval.
“These are government-produced materials meant for our hospitals. You are illegally selling these critical resources on a Saturday afternoon while rural health facilities are desperately in need of them. This is not just theft; it is an act of sabotage aimed at undermining our efforts to revitalize the health sector in Ebonyi State. Such misconduct is utterly unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” the governor stated firmly.
The six suspects have since been handed over to law enforcement authorities for further investigation. The governor assured the public that those found guilty would face the full extent of the law.
