FRAUD: Why Staff Wants EFCC, ICPC Investigate Professor Chris Bode over Alleged Fund Diversion in LUTH

FRAUD: Why Staff Wants EFCC, ICPC Investigate Professor Chris Bode over Alleged Fund Diversion in LUTH

By: James Bwala 

LAGOS University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has been mentioned in the ongoing probe against the former Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) as being one of the conduit pipes used by government officials to Siphon money meant for the development of health institutions in the country.

Although many other government agencies were named in the developing incidences, staff of LUTH told NEWSng that the Chief Medical Director, Professor Chris Bode should be invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to answer question over his involvement in the currently fraud and investigation of misappropriated 80 Billion naira connected to the former AGF.

Finding by NEWSng revealed that, on the 15th of February, 2022, some LUTH  staff received money from the Accountant General office tagged ‘CBN/NEFT/IPPIS TRANSACTION ACCOUNT/Prom ArrLUTH’ with credit alert narrative ( Acct: ******3425. Desc: CBN//NEFT//IPPIS TRANSACTION ACCOUNT// Prom Arr LUTH//||. Date: 15-Feb-2022 07:48), which Professor Chris Bode and staff of the Accountant General office collided to fraud the national treasury (Money Laundry) through percentage that will be given to him (Prof. Chris Bode.).

It was revealed that there was no circular sent from the accountant general office to direct Professor Chris Bode to refund the money back to the treasury but the CMD directed the director of Administration to issue a circular to staff who received such fraudulent fund to return it back to LUTH TSA account, which the CMD Professor Chris Bode and Head of finance Mr. Tajudeen Ibrahim are now paying back to the accountant general office through various contracts such Extension of accident and emergency, staff training through the accountant general cronies, buying official vehicles while neglecting the hospital consumables and some other critical clinical areas. 

According to LUTH staff, “There are many agencies AGF diverted such fraudulent money to such as LUTH. Therefore, LUTH TSA account should be investigated because where did LUTH get money to start the construction of the extension of Accident and Emergency building without budget from the federal government. The huge amount of funds in the LUTH TSA account should be thoroughly investigated. The EFCC and ICPC must get involved. A lot is happening in LUTH under Professor Chris Bode and his cronies with their collaborators from the Accountant General’s Office.”

Speaking with the CMD Professor Chris Bode on the allegation, he told NEWSng that all those making such frivolous allegations are doing it out of ignorance because they do not understand how the system works.

“How can you collect money for a promotion you did not receive? Money was paid wrongly into some staff accounts and they were asked to refund the money. If they have any questions regarding the issue why can’t they approach the management? Why should they approach the Press? If they feel unsuitable, why can’t they go to the police instead of the media? They should go to court or they should approach the Management if they feel otherwise about the ongoing process. “Professor Chris said.

Also Read: NBBF: The Voice of Jacob and the hand of Esau

According to him, LUTH has no account with any bank except the TSA account, which is in CBN. “You should ask them. The money was paid wrongly for promotion they did not earn and they are going about making all sorts of moves against the management. They have their collaborators, one of which you have interviewed. He himself is a mischief. We discover these people were wrongly paid and we ask them to refund the money paid into their accounts to the TSA account which is in CBN.” The CMD insists.

However, staff told NEWSng that no one is saying that LUTH has accounts with any commercial bank stressing that every agency of government has TSA account with the CBN, but that this particular fund came from CBN IPPIS account as such for good accountability the funds should be returned to the same account where it came and not to the LUTH TSA account, which is not the same as IPPIS account.

“Why through the LUTH account? Why was the fund not refunded back to the National Treasury? We know that each MDAs have their individual TSA account. Why pay such money to the LUTH TSA account and not the IPPIS account domiciled in CBN. We will keep hammering on this because something is wrong and needs to be corrected. CMD may claim that a TSA account is for all agencies, which is wrong and like point out every agency has its TSA account. The IPPIS account is the central account and where that money came from and should be returned to the same account.

“Staff did not remit the money back to CBN IPPIS account. This is where we are having problems with them (Management). We know what is happening in LUTH as staff. We are telling the world now so that we can do away with corruption in the system.

The CMD is just building properties everywhere because his tenure is coming to end February 22^nd, 2023. He has given consultancy appointments to doctors without following due process. No Newspaper Advertisement to that effect and we know what is going on under the table.” LUTH staff said.

Earlier, NEWSng spoke to the Head of Finance at LUTH, Mr. Tajudeen Ibrahim, who said,” I am not allowed to talk to the Press on the matter currently ongoing with regards to allegations of fraud at Lagos University Teaching Hospital. You may wish to talk to our PRO or better still you can contact the Chief Medical Director, who is in position to speak on this.”

When NEWSng contacted Ex-President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Professor Boniface Oye Adeniran said, there are many allegations of impropriety at LUTH where he served as member of the governing council between 2017 and 2019.

“I have spoken to Arise Television on this and there are other writings I put, which I believe you may check for in Google. I have since resigned from work but if you go through what I wrote and said while working at LUTH. I said that from a position of authority. “Professor Boniface said.

FRAUD: Why Staff Wants EFCC, ICPC Investigate Professor Chris Bode over Alleged Fund Diversion in LUTH