By Our Correspondent
The fact finding committee set up to look into various misdemeanor of the Medical Director, Federal Medical Center Abeokuta, Professor Adewale Musa-Olomu, has indicted him of gross misconduct.
It could be recalled that concerned staff of FMC, Abeokuta have petitioned the Board and the Federal Ministry of Health on some allegations bothering on age Falsification, abuse of office, and fraudulent practises against the Medical Director, Musa-Olomu calling, for proper investigation into the allegations.
The Committee under the Chairmanship of Elder Gabriel Akpan had Dr Olutomi Coker ( Hon Commissioner for Health, Ogun State), Alh Ibrahim Ibn Gaji (Rep Professional Bodies), Alh Tijani Ramat Momoh (rep. Public interest)- as members while
Mr Evans M. Udoekanem (rep. Federal ministry of health) as Secretary, found Professor Musa-Olomu guilty on many of the allegations raised in the petition.
Western Star Comets reports that prior to the set-up of the Committee, at the 6th Board of management meeting, the chairman informed members of the receipts of 2 petitions dated 23rd December 2020, and 26th January 2021 authored by Mr Abdulahi Abiodun and Mr Sunday Anisere respectfully against the Medical Director, Federal medical Center, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
"This was brought to the notice of the Medical Director at the extra ordinary meeting of the Board held on 23rd March, 2021.
"After deliberations, it was resolved that a query should be issued to the Medical Director.
"A fact finding committee was set up to carry out indepth investigation on all the issues raised in the petitions.
The Medical Director was alleged to have committed the following offences
1) Falsification of age
2) Abuse of office
3) Diversion of solar electricity system to personal house
4) Misuse of hospital fund
5) Procurement and installation of used CT scan machine
6) Poor personal history
7) Dismissal from Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital Sagamu due to unethical practises.
The Committee was requested to submit the report to the Board of Management on Monday, 12th April 2021.
In carrying out its task, the Committee which began its assignment on Wednesday 24th March, 2021 with the mandate to work within scheduled time frame.
The terms of reference of the Committee are according to the report includes,
A) To determine whether the allegations leveled against the Medical Director are true or not.
B) To determine the consistency in the age by Medical Director's claim.
C) To make appropriate recommendation on the findings in line with the Public Service Rules.
Western Star Comets gathered that the assignment was carried out through the following methods;
1) Engaging in virtual meeting which was fixed for Saturday 3rd April, 2021 while physical meeting was scheduled between Tuesday, 6th to Friday 9th April, 2021.
2) Through invitation of some members of staff which include Director of Finance and Account, and head of Procurement Department.
3) Visitation to the following institutions
a) Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital Sagamu
b) Naiwairudeen Secondary School, Obantoko Abeokuta where the Medical Director completed his secondary school education in 1977.
The summary of the allegations are as follows
1) Falsification of age:
a) That you are older than your present age.
b) That your real age can be verified at the following places,
1) Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital
2) University College Hospital, Ibadan where you had your housemanship and Residency Training
3) Naiwairudeen Secondary School Obantoko Abeokuta
Abuse of Office
.... that the Medical Director granted his biological son, Mr B. Musa with P.4127IPPIS no 42957, four (4) months after he was employed on 19th October, 2018 as an Engineer in the Works Department of the hospital full scholarship sponsored byethe Federal Medical Center Abeokuta to study for a Masters Degree in a European country".
b) that you diverted the solar electricity system worth Five million Naira which was meant for the hospital to your personal house for personal use.
C) That you misused the hospital funds to transport ten (10) Hospital staff who accompanied you to receive a personal award on 10th December, 2020 in Abuja.
3) CT Scan: A medical equipment bought for N250,000,000 (two hundred and Fifty million naira) broke down after its installation and was resold thereafter at a pittance in Abeokuta.
4) Poor Personal History: That you have treated staff of this hospital with disdain and indulge in assaulting members of staff with unprintable names in public. Furthermore, this has been your track record at your previous place of employment that led to
a) dismissal at Muslim Hospital, Saki after the whole town rose up against your unethical behavior and matched with weapon to the hospital to dislodge you.
b) Dismissal from Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital Sagamu due to unethical practises
Falsification of age
The petitioners claimed that the Medical Director is Sixty four years old and therefore should have retired four years ago. They opined that the Medical Director has violated the Public Service Rules. The petitioners cited institutions which they claimed could be confirmed and which include:
Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu Ogun State,
University College Hospital, Ibadan,
Naiwairudeen Secondary School Obantoko, Abeokuta
These institutions were visited and official letters requesting for information submitted. Official responses are being expected.
In hit presentation, the Medical Director claimed that;
1) Statutory declaration of age at the Oyo State customary court by his late father in 2009 made his true date of birth to be 6th January, 1964, today he is over fifty seven (57) years.
It is authentic and had been in use. It therefore means that he has rejected the statutory age declaration of his late mother which made him Sixty on (61) years to date.
2) As a University professor, before he assumed the office of the Medical Director, he is covered by section 4 (a-b) of the (University miscellaneous) provision Act. His retirement age has moved to 70 (seventy years). To this end, he assumed that the Civil Service Rules on Statutory retirement age at 69 years does not affect him.
3) as a political appointee of the President, the Medical Director averred that petitioners are trying to make him ineligible to represent himself for a second term in office even with his dual capacity. He therefore concluded that the petitioners were false, unfounded and should be dismissed.
The Findings of the Committee were:
Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu
The CMD and DA held a brief meeting with members of the Committee, the CMD said that Professor Adewale Musa-Olomu was well loved by workers and patients. He had no disciplinaycase only that he was on Leave of Absence when the management decided that staff strength should be pruned down such that many doctors and other category of workers were affected. He emphasized that the Medical Director was not dismissed but affected by the exercise. The CMD promised that the documented response to the letter will be sent to the management.
2) At Naiwairudeen Secondary School, Obantoko Abeokuta, the Principal met with the Committee members and promised that official letter will be forwarded to the management of FMC, Abeokuta
3) At the University College Hospital, Ibadan, the CMD was in a very crucial discussion with some stakeholders and his personal assistant. But after a brief discussion promised the Committee members that the CMD will give immediate attention to the letter as soon as the meeting was over.
4) Qualifications as shown by the MD to the Committee with dates are as follows
a) FSLC...............not cited
b) GCE................1978
c) WAEC.............1979
d) GCE/AL...........1981
e) University of Ibadan ( Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery)....1986
f) NYSC.........1988
g) Fellowship of Nigerian School of Surgeon Cert..1999
h) MSc.......2012
I) P.hd...awaiting Certificate
Summary of findings/ observations by the Committee
1) There is sufficient evidence of age Falsification against Professor Adewale Musa-Olomu Medical Director Federal Medical Center Abeokuta as two different dates of birth are in use by the Medical Director. This is against the provisions of Public Service Rules 02108(2008) as well as circular HCSF/PSO/004/T/66 of 3rd February, 2009 vide annexures VII & VIII respectfully.
2) The real age of Medical Director could be deduced from his educational history.
3) There is evidence of abuse of Office as due process was not followed in the approval of his son's training overseas. This is against the provisions of Public Service Rules.
4) The CT machine procured is a refurbished one, branded as new.
5) The allegation of diversion of finds for solar electricity could not be substantiated
6) The allegation of misuse of hospital funds for award investiture could not be sufficiently substantiated.
The allegations of dismissal from OOUTH, Sagamu could not be substantiated, rather, he was retrenched during downsizing exercise.
8) The allegation of poor interpersonal relations is relatively substantiated at least recent times.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1) The findings above should be forwarded to the relevant authorities for further necessary action which also includes the determination of the real age of the Medical Director from available evidences and records vide annexures ix & x.
This is necessary as the tenure of office of the incumbent Medical Director expires on 31st May, 2021 vide Annexures XI
2) A proper audit of the processes and circumstances that led to the procurement of a used CT scan machine as new should be carried out to prevent future reoccurrence in the center and elsewhere.
3) The Medical Director should be counseled on the need to improve upon his interpersonal relationship required of such office.
4) From the evidences available to the Board of management through the investigative Committee, the Medical Director has tampered with his age.
5) The fact that there are two (2) different dates of birth used in his career progression contravenes the extant circular ref. No. HCSF/PSO/004/T/66 dated 3rd February, 2009 (vide Annexures VIII).
6) That the incumbent should made to realize the implications of his actions within the purview of the law, especially the administrative and legal consequences.
7) Proper audit of the circumstances surrounding the procurement of the refurbished CT scan machine should be carried out as follows,
a) Legality or otherwise of the Procurement of refurbished CT scan machine at the cost of new one.
b) Illegality of use of hospital's fund to finance the repairs of the old refurbished CT scan machine despite the Board's directive that the contractor should bear the cost of repairs.
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