At least six employees of the Ebonyi State Ministry of Health have been arrested for allegedly pilfering government property.
The suspects were caught on Saturday night at the ministry’s premises while in the process of moving stolen items to black market sale points.
Governor Francis Nwifuru confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Monday Uzor.
The statement detailed that Nwifuru had taken swift action after witnessing the illegal activity firsthand.
The governor’s statement said, “Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has ordered the arrest and prosecution of one Mr. Ndukwe Ayansi and five other individuals for allegedly diverting materials meant for the State’s Ministry of Health.”
The incident unfolded as Nwifuru was en route to inspect a government project. While passing by the Ministry of Health’s premises, he noticed a Toyota Dyna truck being loaded with various items from the ministry’s warehouse.
Upon closer inspection, the governor discovered that the vehicle was being filled with critical documents such as patients’ data registers, medical cards, and other official materials.
The governor’s investigation revealed that these stolen documents had already been sold without the requisite government authorization.
“It was also discovered that all the documents had been sold without government approval,” the statement added.
The governor expressed his outrage at the crime, calling it a direct sabotage of the state’s ongoing efforts to improve the health sector.
“You are selling government documents without approval on a Saturday afternoon. Our hospitals in rural areas are in need of registers, data entry forms, and hospital cards. Sadly, the ones provided by the government are being sold by you. This is pure sabotage to our efforts in the health sector, and it will not be tolerated,” he remarked at the scene.
The six individuals, including the prime suspect, Mr. Ndukwe Ayansi, have since been handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution, with the governor assuring that the full weight of the law would be applied to those involved in this illicit act.
The authorities are now investigating the full extent of the theft and its potential impact on public health services in the state.
