After Ebola, virus raises queries

Without any doubt, the volunteers have contributed to tackling an unprecedented outbreak of the virus that killed nearly 10,000 people in West Africa, torn families apart, shattered economies and brought health systems to the brink of chaos. In minutes they were boarded on buses and whisked to hotels, in time to ceremonially meet President Goodluck […]

Without any doubt, the volunteers have contributed to tackling an unprecedented outbreak of the virus that killed nearly 10,000 people in West Africa, torn families apart, shattered economies and brought health systems to the brink of chaos.
In minutes they were boarded on buses and whisked to hotels, in time to ceremonially meet President Goodluck Jonathan, who was due to leave office in four days time, the next day.
But their return was soon greeted by some allegations that are now threatening to taint the anti-Ebola fight. The main allegation is centered on how response effort of the personnel to the virus consumed a N1.9 billion.
Officials have been reluctant to talk about the money used in tackling Ebola, while the state of a N30 million centre at Gwagwalada remains uncertain.
But allegations by Martins Ugwu, who worked in the federal ministry of health, using a friend’s medical licence and name since 2006 until he was discovered as an impostor, have raised questions.
Ugwu was identified as a “Dr George Davidson”-bearing same name as his friend, Davidson, whose credentials he used, according to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, a body that regulates activities of doctors. The body called for his arrest on June 4.
He was let go the next day to the chagrin of the council, which has written the Inspector-General of Police to complain about police prosecution record relating to quack doctors.
Ugwu said that his arrest could not be “unconnected with the… fraud I uncovered,” and told police who picked him up from Summit Villa-the same hotel some of the Ebola volunteers were lodged previously-that he would expose the fraud. He claims that he has documents in store to back his allegations.
He also said that Ebola volunteers-whom he joined to welcome at the airport-were prevented from leaving their hotels over unpaid bills, running into millions of naira.
His allegations, including spending N900 million on isolation tents, led to the arrest of John Kehinde, the director for emergency health response, on June 10, a day after he and three other top officials were said to have been invited for questioning by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the police.
One voucher, according to his dossier, shows N28.2 million in advance grant paid to a certain Musa A.A. to decontaminate First Consultant Hospital- the Lagos hospital that treated the Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer until his death after he entered Nigeria with the virus.
He claims Lagos government did the decontamination, not the ministry, as claimed, adding that the money released for the purpose was not returned.
Similarly, the sum of N63.5 million meant to train volunteers before their departure in December last year was never accounted for. Ugwu claimed that they volunteers were trained by the AU.
His allegations, though unverified yet, lists withdrawals of cash running into millions.
Funding came from several sources: Japan paid for a transit camp at the police facility in Kuje, and China donated 12 ambulances. One was damaged in an accident during delivery from Lagos to Abuja.
And businessman Aliko Dangote’s foundation helped in funding research experimental drugs and vaccines against Ebola, and also pledged N60 million to take care of volunteers accommodation.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), which was at the heart of the country’s Ebola response, has ruled out any misappropriation of funds, stating hotel bills were paid.
The NCDC director Abdulsalami Nasidi said: “The issue is that raising money for them within the period they came was too tight. So Mr President asked Dangote to intervene, as usual, and he did. But the money required to actually handle them [volunteers] for the whole 21 days [of observation], we couldn’t obtain.”
He said the country “had no right” to keep returning volunteers for 21 days, but they were kept to be clerked and reviewed for daily temperature reports.
“There is no misappropriation of any penny,” he added.
Ebola fund was run by a committee set up by permanent secretary Linus Awute.
“Not one individual controlled that money. Even the minister did not. Everything went through a committee. Had it been we pocketed the money, which money would we have used on Ebola? Partners ensured absolute transparency. They directed their money into actions. Monies paid for activities listed. All the rumours are just meant to divert attention from some criminal activities,” he said.
The attention is on Ugwu, who has been described as frequently resorting to blackmail and extortion of top ministry officials. His allegations have also been construed as attempts to rake muck in retaliation for what he, on Friday, described as the NCDC scandalising him.
He was on a government committee that welcomed the volunteers upon their return, and has been giving interviews in that capacity since.
Questions shift to how he worked in the heart of Nigeria’s health ministry since 2006, getting promotions, scaling through reviews and assessment, becoming an assistant director in the federal civil service.
He started as a student in one of NCDC’s programmes, the centre said.
“He managed to sneak into that programme and we are now reviewing to actually take necessary action against him,” said Nasidi.
The actions come at a time when questions are asked about Nigeria’s health spendings and accountability.