By Ife Osemedua
365Daily– The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has recovered and handed over a hospital worth N150 million to the Alex Ekwueme Federal University (FUNAI), Ebonyi State.
This was disclosed by the Spokesperson of ICPC, Mrs Azuka Ogugua, on Monday.
She said the recovery of the hospital was part of the commission’s Constituency Tracking Initiative launched in 2019.
The ICPC spokesperson said that the Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Group (CEPTG) of ICPC had in the course of the Phase Two of its tracking exercise, traced the hospital project to Ebunwana Community in Afikpo-South Local Government Area of Ebonyi.
She added that the hospital, fully equipped with state-of-the-art medical facilities, was conceived as a medical outpost of FUNAI and meant to serve as a teaching hospital for its medical students.
“The project, which was appropriated in 2019 and completed in March 2020 at the cost of N150 million, was facilitated by the then Senator representing Ebonyi-South Senatorial District, Sen. Sonni Ogbuoji.
“However, after the completion of the project, the local community unofficially took over the hospital even though it was not meant for it and went ahead to rename the facility.
“The community also appointed a consultant to manage the hospital on a profit-sharing arrangement between the community and the consultant.
“Following the illegality that enshrouded the constituency project, the commission stepped in to ensure that the hospital was handed over to the institution for which it was appropriated and executed,” she said.
ICPC’s spokesperson added that the project was recovered and handed over to the university community on March 25.
She added that investigation is ongoing to unravel how the local community got access and took control of the hospital without any official ceremony.