The Imo State Executive Council has adopted the Whitepaper Report on the Visitation Panel on Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH), Orlu relating to the management, and directed that the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr. Chukwuma Duru, be dismissed over fraudulent practices.

The CMD is to be handed over to the security agencies for further investigation over his involvement in the padding of the wage bill of the school from N147 million in December, 2019 to N236 million in January, 2020.

Declan Emelumba, Commissioner for information explains: “It is difficult to explain how under the watch of the Management of IMSUTH people who are administrative staff are paid teaching and clinical allowances which are contrary to the provisions for such institutions.  It is equally of note that the Whitepaper on the panel revealed that the finance of the institution was not audited for the year 2017, 2018 and 2019 yet they were operating and carrying out financial transactions outside budgetary provisions. There were no records of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), rather only fraudulent expenditures were recorded for these three years and more.

“For this and many more, the Government has decided to hand over the Chief Medical Director (CMD) and members of his Management to police for further investigations and necessary actions that will be taken with regard to the monumental fraud in the once revered institution.”

Meanwhile, it emerged at the meeting that Governor Hope Uzodimma will on November, 30 flag-off the reconstruction work on the Owerri – Orlu and Owerri – Okigwe roads in keeping with his  Urban Renewal Programme.

The governor had earlier hinted that the two critical roads that lead to the capital city of Imo State will be reconstructed by World- class construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.

On Wednesday, Governor Uzodimma reiterated that works on the roads will commence next week after the flag-off on November 30, and that the construction company will work day and night to deliver on the project within 18 months.

On December1, Governor Uzodimma will flag-off work on the reconstruction of critical roundabouts in Owerri as part of his Urban renewal programme.

Emelumba said seven world class roundabouts in Owerri Urban will be rebuilt with traffic-lights as part of measures to beautify Owerri Municipal.

The roundabouts are Control roundabout, Warehouse roundabout, MCC junction roundabout, Okigwe road roundabout, Fire service roundabout, Emmanuel College roundabout and Naze roundabout.

He said on-going “Operation fill-all-potholes” in the State aimed at ensuring zero port holes, especially during this yuletide will not stop, and that Whetheral road, a major link road to the Government House and Assumpta Avenue and World Bank areas will receive a face lift before Christmas.

The Commissioner reiterated government’s earlier directive to the Commissioner for Education, Prof. B.T.O Ikegwuoha to work-out a time-table for the immediate resumption of tertiary institutions in Imo State.