In efforts to sanitise the public service from corrupt leaders and their accomplices, the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has called on the new Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Idi Aba, Abeokuta Board Chairman, Dr. Dayo Israel, to commence a thorough investigation into the allegations of age falsification, mismanagement of public funds, and others against the Chief Medical Director of the centre, Prof. Adewale Musa-Olomu.
Speaking against the backdrop of multiple letters written on the issue and allegations leveled against Prof. Musa-Olomu, CACOL Chairman, Debo Adeniran, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to zero tolerance, noting that CACOL is an aggregate of human rights, community-based, and civil society organizations and individuals with an anti-corruption and openness in governance agenda across Nigeria. It is a non-political, non-religious, non-sectarian, and non-profit organization.
He stated that the organization believes that any matter concerning public health, such as that of Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, should be treated with the utmost urgency, since the issues involved border on corruption, which could lower the quality of services citizens receive from the Centre. He stressed that the implications of bad leadership, maladministration, fraudulent acts, and criminalities could jeopardize the Seven-Point Agenda of President Bola Tinubu-led APC federal government.
“We would like to draw your attention to our letters addressed to the office of the Honourable Minister of Health and Social Welfare, copies of which were sent to various relevant authorities, dated Monday, 4th July 2022, and a first reminder on Wednesday, 4th October 2023, and the second reminder on Tuesday, 30th July 2024, respectively, on the above subject matter.
“We wish to bring to your attention our agitation towards zero tolerance concerning corruption allegations leveled against Professor Abdus-Samiu Adewale Musa-Olomu, the Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
“On 19th August 2022, we were assured that the matter was being looked into, and the outcome of the ministry’s findings, including possible actions taken, would be communicated to our office in due course. To our utmost dismay, our organization has not received any further correspondence on the matter till date, having waited for an official report from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) for over two years. This suggests an attempt to ‘sweep the matter under the carpet.’
“In light of the above, we strongly demand a thorough, diligent investigation into the allegations of age falsification, mismanagement of public funds on the refurbished CT SCAN machine purchased at the price of a new one (₦240M), which broke down four months after installation, and also abuse of office by employing his biological son, Muhammed Babatunde Musa, a Mechanical Engineer in the Works Department of the Centre, and also granting him study leave with pay to European countries when his appointment had not been confirmed.”
“In addition to the above, it is important to inform you that the matter has attracted the attention of anti-graft agencies, including the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) at the Medical Centre Abeokuta.”
Reacting to the allegations, the Head of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Dr. Segun Orisajo, explained that all the issues being raised as fresh by CACOL had been adequately attended to and resolved by a Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta as late as April 2022.
He said, “We find it a sheer waste of precious time joining issues with the organization on this matter.”
He noted that the eight years’ tenure of Prof Musa-Olomu had been most productive, focused, and result-oriented, as widely acclaimed by numerous members of the public and staff, despite several bottlenecks and diversionary attempts.
“As the Medical Director winds up his eight-year tenure in about three weeks’ time, we urge CACOL to have faith in our judiciary, anti-graft agencies, and Federal Ministry of Health officials, which it cited, and which have been on top of its agitation as late as 2022 when it made the petition public.”
