Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has directed the immediate arrest and prosecution of Mr. Ndukwe Ayansi and five other employees of the Ministry of Health for their alleged involvement in the theft and sale of government property.
The suspects were reportedly caught on Saturday night at the ministry’s premises while attempting to transport materials intended for the ministry to unauthorized sale locations. The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Monday Uzor, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Sunday.
According to the statement, Governor Nwifuru—who was en route to inspect a project—noticed a suspicious truck being loaded with items from the ministry’s warehouse. A closer investigation revealed that the materials included registers, books, patients’ data registers, hospital cards, and other essential health-related documents. These materials had allegedly been sold without government authorization.
“Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has ordered the arrest and prosecution of one Mr. Ndukwe Ayansi and five others for allegedly diverting materials meant for the State’s Ministry of Health,” the statement read.
Speaking at the scene, Governor Nwifuru condemned the act as a betrayal of government efforts to reform the state’s health sector. He expressed his dismay, stating:
“You are selling government documents without approval on a Saturday afternoon. Our hospitals in rural areas are in dire 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.”
The governor emphasized the gravity of the situation, highlighting the impact of such theft on healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved rural communities.
The suspects have since been handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution. Governor Nwifuru reiterated his administration’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption and malpractice, vowing to ensure that all those involved face the full weight of the law.
This incident underscores the state’s commitment to accountability and transparency in governance, particularly in sectors critical to public welfare.
