…Says Board chair has no access to FMC, FMCA Consult accounts
…..Details reforms, audits, restructuring of FMCA Consult
…..Links allegations to resistance against probes of past administration
The Media Office of Hon. Dayo Israel, Chairman of the Board of Management of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, has dismissed as false and misleading recent media reports alleging financial mismanagement and improper conduct against him, describing the claims as a coordinated smear campaign by individuals opposed to ongoing reforms at the Centre.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the media office said publications in Blueprint, The Newsville and other platforms misrepresented facts and ignored verifiable records, stressing that Israel has at no time exercised control over the finances of FMC Abeokuta or its business subsidiary, FMCA Consult Ltd.
“Hon. Dayo Israel is not a signatory to any FMC Abeokuta or FMCA Consult account and has never handled the day-to-day finances of the Centre or its consult arm. Any claim suggesting otherwise is baseless and contradicted by official records and board minutes,” the statement said.
According to the media office, Israel’s role as Board Chairman is strictly statutory, limited to governance oversight, strategic direction and fiscal supervision in line with the FMC Establishment Act.
It noted that since assuming office, he has focused on correcting long-standing systemic failures inherited from previous administrations.
The statement disclosed that FMCA Consult Ltd had operated for over seven years without an independent audit, proper corporate governance, regular board meetings or dividend declarations to FMC Abeokuta, despite the Centre being its sole shareholder. It added that the consult’s board composition at the Corporate Affairs Commission was dominated by retired officials and individuals no longer in active service.
“To address these lapses, the Board approved a restructuring of FMCA Consult, appointed a professional interim management team and introduced transparent reporting mechanisms. Within three months, the consult produced its first audited financial report, instituted monthly reporting and ensured all shares and dividends are held in trust for FMC Abeokuta,” it stated.
The media office linked the allegations against Israel to what it described as “entrenched interests and loyalists of the immediate past Medical Director, Prof. Musa Olomu,” alleging that these individuals benefitted from opaque practices and are now resisting accountability.
It further claimed that investigations under the current Board uncovered inflated expenditure figures, including diesel costs allegedly reported at over ₦50 million monthly despite storage capacity and records indicating far lower consumption. The statement also alleged that some liabilities and debts attributed to the Centre were either unfounded or misrepresented.
The statement accused the former administration of procurement breaches, misuse of internally generated revenue, and attempts to divert FMC resources for personal projects, noting that several of these issues are reportedly under investigation by agencies such as the EFCC, ICPC, the Special Fraud Unit and committees of the National Assembly.
Addressing claims that Israel demanded luxury vehicles or expensive accommodation, the media office described such reports as “deliberate falsehoods.”
It clarified that accommodation during his initial visit to Abeokuta was arranged by the then Medical Director as part of standard protocol and that Israel was neither involved in the booking nor aware of the costs.
On the issue of official vehicles, the statement said Israel has largely relied on his personal vehicles for official duties, citing safety concerns following an incident in which a rented vehicle provided by the Centre reportedly caught fire while conveying him from the airport.
“Attempts to twist these events into allegations of personal demands for luxury vehicles are dishonest and ignore the fact that the former Medical Director allegedly retained multiple official vehicles for personal use,” the statement added.
The media office maintained that Israel’s tenure has prioritised institutional reforms, staff capacity building, strategic planning and prudent financial management. It noted that the Board has resolved that internally generated revenue be used mainly for patient-centred services rather than capital projects, a move it said has eased debt pressures and improved service delivery.
Reaffirming confidence in the recent appointment of a substantive Medical Director, the statement said the Board remains committed to working collaboratively to entrench transparency and restore public trust in the Centre.
“The allegations against Hon. Dayo Israel are politically motivated and driven by frustration over blocked leakages and ongoing reforms.
He remains committed to strengthening governance, accountability and operational efficiency at FMC Abeokuta,” the media office stated.
It urged media organisations and the public to verify facts before publication, adding that the Board and its chairman are prepared to provide documentary evidence to support all actions taken in the interest of the institution.
