Ebonyi state government Monday officially took over the Presbyterian joint hospital Uburu after 100 years of ownership.
It also shut down the hospital to enable them take inventory.
It said that the takeover was due to poor health service rendered to the people and embezzlement of fund meant for the running of the hospital.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Daniel Umezurike during the takeover accused the church of illegally taking control of the hospital after the exit of Church of Scotland.
He said, “This hospital was established by church of Scotland mission in 1912 with no evidence linking the hospital to Presbyterian church of Nigeria and if there is any such documents we want to sight it.
“That Uburu people donated the land to church of Scotland mission in 1912 not to Presbyterian church of Nigeria.
“That when the Church of Scotland was leaving, the Presbyterian church of Nigeria came in probably because most of the workers are members of PCN especially late Ezeogo Dr. Francis Akanu Ibiam, the then governor old Estern Region but ownership was never transferred to them.
“That the hospital was offering quality services until the 90s when the church of Scotland stopped sending expartries from the Netherlands and the clinical services and management became completely indigenous with attendant deterioration.
“That the host community (Uburu Adu kingdom) started complaining about the ugly trend in the hospital. There was no corporate social responsibility, failure of Presbyterian Joint Health Institute which was established by the hospital but could not secure accreditation for years before it was closed down and students moved to EBSU where they graduated”.
Dr. Umezuruike said that either the Presbyterian Church or any other body linked with the ownership failed to apply for the renewal of the lease of ownership.
“That in other to forstall total breakdown of law and order, the State Executive Council EXCO of 14th July 2020, in accordance with Land Use Act(Cap L.5Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 revoked the right of occupancy for overriding public interest.
He noted that the State House of Assembly affirmed the revocation adding that the ownership of the land and whatever properties consequently reverted to Ebonyi State government.
