By Ajuma Edwina Ameh
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has commenced an investigation into the utilisation of the N950 million COVID-19 Intervention Fund by the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) and all other health institutions that benefited from the fund.
This followed an alleged violation of the provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 by the beneficiaries of the Fund.
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Persecondnews.com recalls that the Federal Government had approved and released the sum of N950 million each to 52 Federal Teaching Hospitals and Medical Centres under its Economic Sustainability Plan for the building and furnishing of Molecular Laboratories, Isolation Centres, 10 bedded Intensive Care Units (ICU), and procurement of Personnel Protective Equipment.
The Commission has obtained documents from the Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital that would assist in its investigation of the utilisation of the COVID-19 Intervention Fund by the health institutions, a statement by the ICPC spokesperson, Mrs Azuka Ogugua, disclosed.
The Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mr Clem Agba, who recently visited UPTH, had expressed disappointment and shock after seeing the hospital in ruins.
He threatened to invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corruption Practices and Other Related Matters (ICPC) to probe the management of the hospital over the mismanagement of the N950m COVID-19 response fund granted to the hospital by the federal government.
“The facility is a far cry from other Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centers.”
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