The High Court of Akwa Ibom State sitting in Eket has sentenced a medical doctor, Nwaopara Uche, to a two-year jail term for stealing hospital beds from Immanuel General Hospital and Immanuel Psychiatric Hospital, both in Eket Local Government Area of the state and converting them to his private clinic.
Uche was convicted along with 28-year-old Kubiat Isidore and Felix Ekwere, a 35-year-old security man, who conspired with him to steal the items at Immanuel General Hospital.
Ekwere was caught moving out some of the stolen hospital beds from the hospital at night.
Uche, 39, a native of Mbiere in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo state, is said to have used his position as the Medical Superintendent of Immanuel Psychiatric Hospital to commit the crime.
Delivering judgment in suit number HEK/13C/2023, the Presiding judge, Hon. Justice Nsemeke Daniel convicted the medical doctor on a two-count charge of stealing and conspiracy.
One of the convicts, Samuel is said to have confessed to the police that it was the convicted Uche who sent him.
They were prosecuted by the state through the Ministry of Justice.
In another development, the Federal Government has given the nod for engagement of retired health workers, mostly medical doctors, nurses, and other clinical healthcare workers, on contract basis.
The government, in a circular to this effect, said salaries of the retired health personnel re-engaged would be the same amount they were collecting before their retirement.
The Ministry of Health, in a circular dated October 5, 2023, and directed to the Chief Executive Agencies, Chief Medical Directors, Medical Directors, and Heads of Regulatory Bodies and Schools, urged them to ensure compliance with an earlier circular issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to all staff in their institutions.
The circular, signed by the Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office, Olufemi Oloruntoba, for the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation read in part: “I am directed to refer to the above-mentioned memorandum presented at the 44th National Council on Establishment held from 5th to 9th December 2022, in Yola, Adamawa State, requesting a review of the current retirement age of Medical/Dental Consultants and other health professionals from 60 to 70 and 75, respectively.”
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