The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has commenced an investigation into the utilisation of the N950 million COVID-19 intervention fund by the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported.
Mrs Azuka Ogugua, Spokesperson of ICPC, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday said that all other health institutions that benefited from the COVID-19 Intervention Fund of the Federal Government were also being investigated.
This, according to her, follows an alleged violation of the provisions of the Corrupt ICPC Act, 2000 by the beneficiaries of the fund.
“An immediate investigation by the commission into the utilisation of the N950 million intervention funds by the teaching hospital in Port Harcourt has, therefore, been initiated.
“The commission has obtained documents from the Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and the UPTH.
“The documents will assist in our investigation of the utilisation of the COVID-19 Intervention Fund by the health institutions,” she said.
Ogugua further explained that the Federal Government had approved and released the sum of N950 million each to of the 52 federal teaching hospitals and medical centers under its economic sustainability plan.
She added that the fund was for the building and furnishing of molecular laboratories, isolation centers, 10 bedded Intensive Care Units (ICU) and procurement of Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE). (Tribune)