By Our Correspondent
A human rights organisation, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice, (CHRSJ) has accused the Chief Medical Director of the National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, Dr. Mustapha Alimi of alleged gross misconduct, violation of civil service rules and procedures and financial mismanagement.
According to CHRSJ, it has concluded plans to forward a petition to the relevant authorities including EFCC, ICPC, Special Fraud Unit(SFU) of the Police and other security agents over allegation of constant workers harassment, favouring unqualified personnel over and above qualified personnel.
Specifically, he is being accused by members of staff in the Clinical Service, Nursing Department, the Technical Service Department on issue bothering on appointment of acting head of the Pharmacy Department which is against the extant laws.
He is also being accused of violating the General Clause of the Civil Service Rule 020106 relating to the appointment of the Acting officer in a vacant position as espoused in Appointment of Acting Position Clause 020601-6
This is coming just as the group has written a petition to be forwarded to relevant security agencies particularly, the Inspector-General of Police, over constant threats and harassment being meted to a staff Pharmacist Mrs. Tititlayo Onedo
In a statement issued and signed by CHRSJ's Executive Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman and the copies of which was made available to newsmen on Monday, urged the two anti-graft agencies, the Economic, Financial and other Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to beam search lights on the activities of the Alimi-led management particularly, in the procurement of drugs from the Drug Revolving Fund and Drug Store Manager.
CHRSJ in the statement, is reacting to a petition that was forwarded to Alimi for onward transmission to both the institution's board and the Minister for Health stated that there was more to the decision of Dr. Alimi to sideline Pharm. Mrs. Onedo in the bid to fill the vacant post of the Acting Head of Pharmacy for her junior.
"We are aware that Dr. Mustapha Alimi has decided to deliberately sideline Pharm. Mrs. Titilayo Onedo for her junior, Pharmacist Mrs. Funmilayo Fagboyo for reasons that are not noble, which we call on relevant anti-graft agencies to unravel saying CHRSJ position is premised on the circumstances leading to the appointment."
According to the CHRSJ, Pharm Mrs.Titilayo Onedo incurred the wrath of Mustapha whom it (the group) alleged tried to influence to carry out some acts, which are not only in breach of civil service rules but also clearly breach the recently enacted Procurement Act, saying it has resolved to seek justice for Onedo.
Sulaiman stated in clear terms that Onedo who had acted as the Acting head of the department between 8th and 14th October, 2021 as the most senior officer in the department in line with extant civil service rule but was to be denied the opportunity to continue functioning when Alimi allegedly issued a letter of appointment to Pharm. Mrs Funmilayo Fagboyo on October 14.
To further buttress position, Sulaiman on behalf of CHRSJ, stated that a clear seniority is well established between the two officers with Onedo's appointment taking precedence over that of Fagboyo having been employed into the service of the hospital on December 28th, 1993 while Fagboyo was employed on 11th of January, 1999.
"We wonder how a staff that was employed in 1999 be allowed to lead her superior who was employed six years earlier. This is clearly a breach of Civil Service Rule with specific regards to promotion and career progression. We are calling for a thorough probe of the incident that we consider as very abnormal and strange."The group wrote in its statement.
The group added that "We are aware that the whole hospital dislike this unmeritorious selection as been done by the CMD and together they have resolved to write a petition to the CMD to reverse this unwholesome high-handedness, considering the level of desperation being displayed by the CMD in his bid to cover up his misdemeanor and we have prepared a petition to the relevant authorities particularly the ICPC and the EFCC.
CHRSJ further called for a comprehensive probe into the activities of the current management, particularly those relating to procurement in the Pharmaceutical Department to ascertain whether the management has breached any law with regards to procurement of needs.
We have resolved to picket the hospital and its Premises should Mustapha fail to reverse its decision within 14 days.
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