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N109.9m scandal rocks National Orthopaedic Hospital Staff Co-operative in Enugu

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A total of N109.9 million deposited by staffers of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, in a business venture by its cooperative, ‘National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu Staff Co-operative Thrift and Loans Society limited (NOHESCT&LS Ltd)’, have been embezzled or misappropriated by those elected to oversee its affairs.

Report by News Express revealed that since the election of the current executive in July 9th 2015, under a special general meeting (SGM) led by Engr. Philip Ugwuonah and Uchenna Odo, President and secretary respectively, they have been saddled with the task of recovering the missing fund.

Determined to unravel how the monies belonging to the Society went down the drain, the entire members of the Co-operative decided to audit its account as managed by the past executive members from 2011 to 2015 in its inaugural general meeting held on the 19th day of August 2015.

It was gathered that upon the decision of the congress that one Mr. Basil Udeh and the Auditing firm of “Full Length Consult” was appointed to audit the internal operation of the cooperative and banking transaction of the business venture respectively through the state director cooperative society in accordance with the law.

At the conclusion of the internal operations audit, the External Auditor uncovered fraud and misappropriation of the sum of N107,933,082 by past executive of the cooperative.

According to the audit report of the banking operations of the Cooperative accounts, in Stanbic IBTC and Skye banks, a copy News Express obtained, shows that the past executive members in their tenure collaborated with the banks to defraud the Cooperative Society to the sum of N64,049,688.12 and N30,576,415.96 respectively; totaling N94,626,104.

Further investigation revealed that 213 plots of land purchased under the immediate past executives, which were handled by a land committee, one Ezeokoli Felix and Ekpa Chukwuma Ekpoto, chairman and secretary respectively was inconclusive.

The activities of the committee were said to have been uncovered with irregularities as no member of the Cooperative Society who was a beneficiary could access his/her plot of land from 2012 when it was purchased till date.

“Upon the audit report and irregularities in the management of the 213 plots of land by the committee, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), was invited by the present administration upon approval by the general house to investigate and sanitise the system.

“However, through the intervention of ICPC, the Society has recovered the said land from the vendor, registered same in the name of the Cooperative Society as No. 78 page 78 in volume 1695 Deed Registry Enugu.”

Also, through the help of ICPC, N10 million is currently being recovered from the said land committee, which they are paying one million Naira every month as they have agreed but without prosecution. “This N10 million was discovered as money misappropriated by the committee through its report captioned “report of land committee of Staff Co-operative, Thrift and Loan Society National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu”.

The Cooperative Society reported the embezzlement and misappropriation of N109.9 million by the former executive and trustees to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a petition dated 10th of August 2017 and signed Barr. Emeka Abah, counsel to the Thrift Society.

The staff who were former trustees of the cooperative society are Etukodo Ibanga, President; Ochi Godwin, Vice President; Ilo Nkechi, Secretary, Aguoha Chinwe, Treasurer and Asuquo Tom Emmanuel, Financial Secretary.

According to Abah of the Emmanuel Chambers, New Haven, Enugu, the above mentioned staff who were their trustees, allegedly misappropriated the sum of one hundred and seven million, nine hundred and thirty-three thousand, eighty two naira, N107,933,082.00 while in office and want EFCC to investigate them with the aim of recovering the said loot.

In the letter captioned, “Petition for fraud, misappropriation, and embezzlement of N107,933,082.00 (one hundred and seven million, nine hundred and thirty three thousand, eight two Naira) executives of National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu Cooperative, Thrift and Loan Society, Enugu,” written to the Zonal Head, EFCC, South-East Zonal office, Enugu, the society wants a thorough investigation of the said staff.

“That the said trustees fraudulently managed their affair during their tenure in office, withdrawing money(s) via cheques and such money(s) withdrawn were higher than the amount written in the cheque stubs;

“Some cheques were written and turn out of the cheque booklets but were not found in the statement of account of the cooperative society; the sum of N5,513,520, five million, five hundred and thirteen thousand, five hundred and twenty Naira only, were padded in the course of the above exercise.”

In order to get to the root of the matter, the organisation urged the EFCC to do justice to the allegation.

“We, therefore, urge you to use your good office to investigate the aforementioned and or former trustees for the alleged offences stated herein,” the petition reads.

When contacted for their reaction on the allegation, the former President, Etukodo Ibanga, said the matter has been taken to court, and as such, cannot make any comment.

Source: News Express

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‘If You Want It Dirty, You’ll Get It Dirty’, Benue Diaspora DG Escalates Threat Against National Record Reporter

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National Record Reporter vs Benue State Government

The Editor-in-Chief of National Record, Iduh L. Onah, has raised alarm over what he described as ‘grave threats’ issued against one of the online newspaper’s reporters, Mr. Amos Aar, by the Director-General of the Benue State Directorate of Diaspora Linkages and Investments, Professor Abraham Tartenger Girgih.

In a letter dated June 25, 2025, addressed to Prof. Girgih and made available to the press, National Record condemned what it called “unwarranted threats” following the publication of a report on the funding challenges being faced by the Directorate under the DG’s leadership since its formation in 2024.

According to Onah, while the publication welcomes robust engagement in the form of rejoinders on stories perceived to contain among other things misinformation, misrepresentation or distortion, no one has the right to issue threats.

“While it is within your right to respond to perceived misinformation or misrepresentation and distortion or outright fabrication, in any publication, it is, however, beyond that right to issue a threat as grave as “dire consequences”, Onah stated.

The Editor-in-Chief further noted that the situation escalated after the publication of a follow-up report when Prof. Girgih called the correspondent and made what the paper considers to be a further threat.

“After the publication of the threat and other claims in your rejoinder, you again went ahead to issue what we deemed to be further grave threat when you stated: “…if you want it dirty, you will get it dirty”, among other words perceived as veiled threat, in a telephone conversation you had with our correspondent shortly after you may have read our follow-up report,” stated the Editor-in-Chief.

The management of National Record expressed deep concern for the safety of its correspondent and other staff, especially given the hostile tone of Prof. Girgih in his conversation with the reporter.

The media organization said it is taking steps to notify security agencies, the Benue State Government, and professional journalism bodies about the threats, while also demanding a written assurance from Prof. Girgih that no harm will befall Mr. Aar or any member of the newspaper’s staff.

“We demand from you a written assurance of Mr Aar’s safety from harm and that of our other staff, and a further commitment to desist from harassing, heckling, intimidating or bullying us in whatever manner,” Onah wrote.

While no official response had been received from Prof. Girgih as at press time, National Record expressed hope for civility going forward and reiterated its commitment to its constitutional mandate as a stakeholder in the Fourth Estate of the Realm.

The letter reads in full:

Professor Abaham Tartenger Girgih

The Director-General   

Directorate of Diaspora Linkages and investments

Makurdi, Benue State.

Dear Prof. Girgih;

THREATS ON OUR PERSONNEL AND ORGANISATION

On behalf of the Management of Contest Communications Limited, publishers of National Record, I bring you warm fraternal greetings.

We wish to express our dismay and concern over your threat on our Benue State Correspondent, Mr Amos Aar, in particular, and generally, our entire organisation, as contained in your rejoinder to a report we had published on challenges being faced by the agency which you head.

While it is within your right to respond to perceived misinformation or misrepresentation and distortion or outright fabrication, in any publication, it is, however, beyond that right to issue a threat as grave as “dire consequences”.

After the publication of the threat and other claims in your rejoinder, you again went ahead to issue what we deemed to be further grave threat when you stated: “…if you want it dirty, you will get it dirty”, among other words perceived as veiled threat, in a telephone conversation you had with our correspondent shortly after you may have read our follow-up report.

While we intend to take steps to formally note these threats before the appropriate security agencies, the Benue State Government under which you are serving, as well as our professional organisations nationally; we wish to inform you that the life of our Benue State Correspondent, Amos Aar, and our entire personnel, remains insecure in the context of your threats.

In that regard, we demand from you a written assurance of Mr Aar’s safety from harm and that of our other staff, and a further commitment to desist from harassing, heckling, intimidating or bullying us in whatever manner from carrying out our constitutional mandate as key stakeholders in the Fourth Estate of the Realm.

As we look forward to relating with you in formal, civilised manner, and prompt action on our demands, please, accept the assurances of our esteemed regards.

Iduh L. Onah

Editor-in-Chief

National Record (https://nationalrecord.com.ng)

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Gov Mbah Inaugurates Committee to End Gender-Based Violence in Enugu

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The Enugu State government has inaugurated a steering committee to eliminate Gender-Based Violence, GBV, in the state, declaring zero tolerance for the social malaise.

The inauguration took place at the Government House Enugu.

The panel, which is chaired by the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, draws its membership from the Nigeria Police Force, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro Industrialisation, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ministry of Human Development and Poverty Reduction, Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education as well as the Civil Society.

Inaugurating the panel known as the Steering Committee for Strengthening Institutional and Community Responses to End Gender-Based Violence/Domestication of Enugu State Gender Policy using the Oputa Panel approach, Governor Peter Mbah restated his administration’s commitment to not bringing perpetrators of GBV to book, but also putting in place proactive measures – activities, infrastructure, and systems in place to prevent them.

Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said, “We take gender-based violence seriously. We have zero tolerance for it, and in Enugu State, we are ready to go the extra mile to deal with it.

“If you notice, the government has selected people that are very committed to this goal. This is not an activity where we just want to check-off the list. We will track this. We will monitor this, and we will have quarterly engagements on the successes that this particular committee has achieved in terms of reference that we are going to send.

“We will tighten those terms of reference indicators, so that we monitor what we are doing both in terms of cost input and the value added. It’s very important to us. Many people will be involved – civil society, the police and various ministries.”

He however, said that the effort was to protect everyone, men and women alike, as GBV was not restricted to any gender.

“The whole idea is to hold people responsible that are involved in matters relating to gender violence and deter people that by culture or by association get involved in that, protect women, protect our children, and in the case of violence against men, protect our men because most times we misconstrue gender violence to mean women, but it can also be men too.

“We encourage our men to speak out and to make sure they understand that the policy that Enugu State is soon going to domesticate is for everyone, and not only for the female gender,” he stated.

In her remark, Mrs. Enih, explained that the Oputa Panel approach was inspired by the need to cover all local peculiarities in domesticating the policy on GBV, restarting government’s confidence in the members of the panel.

“The approach we are going to use is the Oputa Panel approach, and in the Oputa Panel approach, we are going to tour the 17 Local Government Areas to get firsthand information about what our people are going through because policy is meant for the people, and a policy should suit the people.

“Again, every community has its peculiar problems, so that’s why the government decided that if we have to domesticate the gender policy, we have to hear from the people who own the policy and know the changes that they desire to see. That is the reason we are using this approach.

“The committee members are to also serve as judges. As we gather this information from our people, we will come back to tailor it in a way to suit the people of Enugu State, and then our policy is ready.

“We want the people to know that there is a gender policy for them. I can assure you that when the people are aware that there is such a policy, they will seek for the enforcement of that policy. So, this is not going to be one of those policies that will just lie on the shelf,” she said.

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Emulate Christ’s virtues, Glo urges Christians at Easter

Reporter: Sandra Ani

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Glo and Globacom
Globacom

Digital solutions provider, Globacom, has congratulated Christians in Nigeria on this year’s Easter celebration, and urged them to emulate the noble qualities of Jesus Christ.  

The company, in a goodwill message to the Christian faithful in the country, lauded their perseverance through the Lenten period which preceded Easter. It enjoined them to always promote the ideals of selflessness, love and peace among all as a way of demonstrating the virtues of the exemplary life of Jesus Christ. 

“Peace, love and sacrifice are the central message of Easter. Christ offered himself in atonement for the sins of the world and he lived a life which made Him an eternal symbol of peace and goodwill for mankind”, Globacom added. 

The company enjoined all Nigerians to share in the lessons of promoting selflessness, a necessary ingredient in the growth and development of every society. It also enjoined all Nigerians to join hands to make Nigeria a better place for all. 

Easter is celebrated yearly at the end of the Lenten season of fasting and prayer considered as a ritual of purification for the Christian faithful. It also precedes the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on Good Friday and His eventual resurrection on Easter Sunday.

The company assured its customers of seamless voice, data and Short Messaging Service (SMS) during and after the Easter celebrations, while urging them to avail themselves of the various data and voice offerings on the network.

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