The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has beamed its searchlight on the Federal Ministry of Health with the invitation of some key officials of the ministry as part of an investigation into alleged financial mismanagement.
Those invited for questioning by the EFCC include Abdulsalami Nasidi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC; Emmanuel Otu, who headed Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine; and Ngozi Azodo, Director, Health Planning, Research and Statistics/MDGs.
Others include Gwarzo Sanni, Director, Port Health Services and Durojaiye Adebayo, Head of Lassa Fever Project/Avian Influenza Program.
A letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health, Amina Shamakin, inviting the aforementioned officials for questioning, said their presence would be required at the anti-graft agency’s headquarters, Abuja, from May 31 to June 2.
“The commission is investigating a case of criminal conspiracy, embezzlement, abuse of office, diversion of public funds and money laundering in which the following MDAs in your ministry featured”, the letter reads in part.
A schedule of the officials’ invitation reveals that Mr. Nasidi will be the first to be questioned on Monday by 10 a.m. while Mr. Otu and Ms. Azodo will have their turns 10 a.m. the following day.
Messrs. Sanni and Adebayo will be quizzed Wednesday by 10 a.m.
Other past and current officials of the ministry are expected to also be invited as part of the investigation.
