N100m laboratory machine, others missing in Delta hospital
Operatives from Delta State Police Command have commenced an investigation into the N100 million missing laboratory machine in Delta State Specialist Hospital.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, disclosed this in Asaba while speaking to The PUNCH about the missing laboratory machine on Monday.
He said, “I know nothing about it. It happened in 2022, and l came to the office in August 2023. Moreover, the police are already investigating it. How can they accuse me of what I don’t know about?”
Workers at the hospital had raised the alarm over the missing Laparoscopy machine and other equipment, berating the Commissioner for delaying the investigation process.
An investigation revealed that a laboratory machine, among others, was said to have been missing at the specialist hospital in Asaba.
Sources in the hospital who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity alleged that the Commissioner was using delay tactics to cover up.
“The Delta Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, and the Chief Medical Director, Dr Peace Ighosewe, should, as a matter of urgency, return all the hospital equipment, including the Laparoscopy machine.
“Only the laboratory machine is valued at approximately N100 million as of today, and it has vanished into thin air for over a year now.
“The Hospital and its holdings aren’t personal property of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa nor Governor Sheriff Oborevwori but for all Deltans. Transparency and accountability must prevail.
“As we speak, a lot of abnormalities are going on in that hospital. This is a waste of taxpayer money for their own interests. Some of the equipment purchased just went into thin air.
“They should provide it; the Health Commissioner had been blocking the investigation; we don’t know why he’s doing that,” sources said.
It was also gathered that the House Committee on Health of the Delta State House of Assembly had invited the hospital management for questioning over the missing machine. The
