LUTH CMD refutes allegations of financial recklessness 

The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Prof. Chris Bode has debunked allegations of financial impropriety levelled against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

ICPC had, in a publication in a national newspaper, said the commission was investigating the CMD over alleged “budget splitting, reckless spending and diversion of funds in the hospital.”

But in a swift reaction, the CMD, in a release, yesterday, said contrary to the report, the ICPC sent a letter to his office, indicating it was investigating some allegations of violations of Code of Conducts, and LUTH was asked to submit some documents, which the hospital complied with.

“LUTH was not given a copy of these allegations, although we requested for it. I have not been invited, neither have I been asked to respond to any of its findings. My bank accounts have not been frozen, contrary to lies published by the newspaper,” he said.

He said in December 2019, a group under a fictitious name, wrote a petition to LUTH Management Board, targeting him, alleging all sorts of falsities, which were considered and dismissed after due investigation at a Board meeting in February 2020.

“I, therefore, deem it absolutely necessary to swiftly repudiate the allegations published against me to protect my family name and honour. Let me state outright that I have not been involved in any financial malpractice and I have not betrayed the confidence and public trust reposed in me by virtue of my position,” he said.

Speaking on suspension from approving LUTH TSA, Bode said the Federal Government withdrew all Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers from operating on the TSA REMITA Platform.

He said: “While they approve all financial payments, MDs/CEOs are no longer a part of the online platform. This function has been reserved for only Accounts personnel. This does not only apply to LUTH, but all Federal institutions nationwide. However, the mischief-makers chose to interpret that as only targeting LUTH CMD.”

Bode said ICPC conducted a systemic audit of all parastatals nationwide last year, where stakeholders were briefed on identified lapses to correct and realign their operations.

He said this was not a probe, but a very useful opportunity to improve and correct accounting systems, especially regarding personnel payments.

“Since January, they have been monitoring the institutions. In June 2020, ICPC invited about 40 institutions to throw more light on the implementation of their earlier recommendations. LUTH was part of these establishments and we have responded,” he said. 

According to him, the present LUTH management has attracted and implemented many laudable far-reaching projects in the past five years almost to the tune of N10b from the private sector.

Bode said such significant projects as the NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre, the new Radiology Centre, the Blood Bank and various building donations were implemented through visionary leadership and scrupulous transparency that boosted investor and donor confidence in the hospital.

He noted that each of these projects was with the approval of relevant agencies, and well as that of the LUTH Board.