The Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, has directed the arrest and prosecution of one Ndukwe Ayansi and five others for allegedly selling and diverting materials meant for the state’s Ministry of Health.

The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Monday Uzor, issued a statement on Sunday confirming the action.

According to Uzor, the governor was en route to inspect a project when he encountered a Toyota Dyana truck loading registers, books, and other materials from the Ministry of Health’s warehouse. Upon questioning, the governor grew suspicious and probed further. It was discovered that patient data registers, cards, and several other documents were being loaded into the vehicle.

The investigation revealed that these materials had been sold without government authorisation.

At the scene, Governor Nwifuru described the incident as an act of sabotage against the government’s efforts to improve the health sector.

“I have not been in office for almost two years but I have spent more than N6 billion buying equipment for the primary health care centres and the general hospitals. And this is what you people, the storekeepers, are doing. You are selling government documents without approval on a Saturday afternoon,” the governor lamented.

He further noted the repercussions for rural hospitals that rely on the materials.

“Our hospitals in the rural areas are requesting registers and data entry forms and hospital cards. Sadly, the ones the government has produced are being sold by you,” Nwifuru said.

Following the discovery, the suspects were handed over to the police, and an investigation into the matter is ongoing.