The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission has recovered multi-million naira medical equipment meant for a constituency project horded in a private residence in Akwa Ibom State.
The state commissioner of ICPC, Mr. Shola Shodipo, who disclosed this at a press conference in Uyo yesterday said the items including a dialysis machine, two 15 KVA generators and infant incubators were meant for a cottage hospital at Ukana in the Essien Udim local government area of the state.
He said it was found during investigation that the equipment ought to have been delivered to the hospital since March 2018.
“The ICPC is interested in constituency projects and has set up tracking groups in 12 states of the federation. In the course of our assignment, we discovered that three dialysis machines and other items for the Ukana Cottage Hospital were not delivered. We found only one in a private place, which was not delivered or installed in the hospital.
“These machines and other equipment were meant to be delivered since 2018. We have taken the items to the appropriate location. They are supposed to help the community in health care delivery.”
However, the ICPC commissioner did not disclose who hid the items in the home saying investigation was still in process.
“We are still in the process of investigation. I will not be able to tell for now, but I can tell you that the items were meant for the cottage hospital and a particular company was awarded the contract.”
Receiving the equipment, the consultant to the hospital, Dr Mary Udoh, thanked the anti-graft agency for recovering them.
“On behalf of the hospital’s management, I want to say that we are very happy to receive the equipment today and I want to thank the ICPC for ensuring that these items were delivered to the right place.
“The equipment will help us in our service delivery to the people,” she said.
