Presidency Wades Into LUTH Crisis As ICPC Invites Embattled CMD, Others For Questioning
Fresh indications have emerged that the Federal Government may have ordered a fresh selection process for the appointment of a substantive Chief Medical Director for the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, following investigations which revealed that the previous process was fraught with, irregularities, graft and alleged bribery.
Already, the Presidency has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to step into the matter to ascertain the role money played through alleged bribery of major actors of the Federal Ministry of Health and other key players during the past Administration which did not follow laid-down rules.
Accordingly, it was learnt that the ICPC has sent invitations to the embattled CMD, Prof Wasiu Lanre Adeyemo and his co-contender in the contest for the office, Prof Femi Fasanmade to come forward to explain some transactions in their bank accounts on Friday, August 11, 2023.
A leaked memo sent by the ICPC to the Federal Ministry of Health last Thursday requested the Ministry to come along with the two contenders, Prof Adeyemo and Prof Fasanmade, to undergo a mandatory fresh process, before any of them can be cleared to have emerged in the appointment process.
And, in line with the ICPC’s request, the Ministry’s Director of Hospital Services, Dr Andrew Noah, forwarded written memos to both Prof Adeyemo and Prof Fasanmade to comply with the directives on the appointed date.
The memo, which was sighted by our Correspondent read; “In continuation of the screening exercise for candidates shortlisted for appointment as Chief Medical Director, *Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH)*, kindly inform the candidates to come to the Commission Headquarters for an Interview to explain some transactions in their accounts on *Friday 11 August 2023 by noon*”
The message further read: “Also, they are to come along with printed copies of *ALL* their Bank statement as earlier requested.”
The latest development was said to have sent panic to the Management and wild jubilation to staffers of the hospital, throwing up high-level controversy and uncertainty in the tertiary teaching hospital.
Many have wondered why those who implemented the previous selection process allowed such grave irregularities to mar the outcome of the process.
As a rule, it was learnt, the process leading to the emergence of a substantive CMD, mandates ICPC clearance, it was learnt.
Besides, it was further learnt that the discovered breaches also included the fact that interviews to select CMDs of five other teaching hospitals were conducted same day and it was not only LUTH that was affected so there couldn’t have been any need to hurriedly single out LUTH when other hospitals still have their leadership in acting capacity.
For the past two months, tension has been brewing in LUTH following the issuance of a letter by the Health Ministry confirming the appointment of Prof Wasiu Lanre Adeyemo as the substantive CMD, a move resisted by key stakeholders in the hospital.
Their grouse is that the Ministry claimed to have acted on a purported approval said to have been issued by former President Muhammadu Buhari Administration dated Sunday 28th May 2023 and signed by the erstwhile Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, contrary to the stark reality that the official handing over to President Tinubu had already taken place on Friday, May 26, 2023.
President Tinubu was said to have been livid with anger over myriads of other controversial actions of the Health Ministry including the recent embarrassing situation at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH) where appointment letters were given to three separate individuals as Ag. CMD in the space of a few weeks and some other federal hospitals where two or more people were appointed CMD in the same institutions.
It would be recalled that following the expiration of the tenure of the former LUTH CMD, Prof Chris Bode, two candidates, the current embattled CMD, Prof Wasiu Adeyemo who was at then the Ag. CMD (based on a hurried recommendation of the Governing Board mid-way into the selection process) and Prof Olufemi Fasanmade, a former Chairman, of the Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) in the hospital were made to undergo an examination and an interview.
The process was challenged by Prof Fasanmade who promptly forwarded the petition to the Presidency and copied the Health Ministry.
In the petition, Prof Fasanmade had faulted the selection process, glaring irregularities and the scoring formula which he alleged was masterminded by the immediate past Health Minister, Dr Osagie Ehanire to impose Prof Adeyemo at all costs as CMD.
