CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – A civic organisation, Concerned Citizen Right (CSR), has called on President Bola Tinubu to launch a full-scale investigation into alleged corruption and falsification of service records at the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital in Calabar, Cross River State.
Addressing a press conference in Calabar on Sunday, the group’s Convener, Mr Patrick Umoh, urged the President to constitute an independent body to investigate the claims, alleging that the Federal Ministry of Health has shown bias by siding with the hospital’s management.
Umoh stated that the long-standing internal crisis between the hospital’s management and Labour Unions has severely affected service delivery at the federal facility. He further accused the hospital’s leadership of harassing and intimidating whistleblowers.
“The Federal Ministry of Health is not unaware of these issues, and they seem to have taken sides with the management. Staffers of the hospital are now being intimidated and harassed for voicing out and exposing these abnormalities,” Umoh alleged.
He said only a direct presidential intervention would ensure a transparent inquiry, adding that relying on the Health Ministry to handle the matter would not yield justice.
The hospital has been embroiled in controversy following allegations by workers’ unions that the Acting Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr Theo Onyuku, falsified his age and service records in a bid to extend his tenure beyond the expected retirement date of 20 June 2025.
According to the unions, Dr Onyuku has three conflicting dates of birth on his official documents — a discrepancy they claim was intentionally done to manipulate his exit from service. “Is it not a miracle that a man who was employed as a Resident Doctor in 1997 passed out from his NYSC in 2003?” the union queried.
They also accused the CMD of looting public funds and denigrating staff. “On 18 June 2025, the CMD called for a meeting which was held at the conference hall and addressed staff as ‘infidels’ for daring to bring this up for public scrutiny,” a union source alleged.
“It is very shocking that with all the information made available to the ministry, it has decided not to act. This is why we say they are observing table manners – don’t talk while eating,” Umoh remarked, referencing perceived complicity on the part of health ministry officials.
When contacted, Dr Onyuku neither confirmed nor denied the allegations but acknowledged awareness of the situation. “I am aware of the matter and can’t say anything about it since it is presently before the ministry for investigation,” he said.
Adding, “I, however, want you to know that anyone in a position of authority will always have opposition.”
Now, will the Presidency heed to the call for an independent probe into the troubled facility, because a troubled staff means poor service delivery.