Two non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Hard Trust International and Movement of Voice for Democracy (Movers Nigeria) have threatened to drag the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, and the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, to court over the recent appointment of one Oduburu Cecilia as the Principal of the School of Post Basic Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Enugu.
Blueprint gathered that the grouse of the petitioners is that Mrs. Oduburu hails from Ebonyi state and suspected to be a relation of the minister. The institution is attached to the hospital, Enugu, and the only one east of the Niger.
In a petition made available to journalists in Enugu over the weekend, which was copied to the Senate, the ICPC, amongst others, the NGOs accused the minister of running the hospital as his private enterprise.
The NGOs alleged had in the petition alleged that the recent appointment was in total violation of the civil service rules of the country, and should be cancelled immediately.
They alleged that contrary to Civil Service Rules, Mrs. Oduburu was appointed the principal of the school “simply because she hails from Ebonyi, the home of the minister.”
According to a statement by Chief Muojekwu Uhanadoeze, and Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo, “Mrs. Cecilia Oduburu undertook a four-year full time degree programme in Nursing at the University of Nigeria while in the service receiving full salaries, advancement and other financial benefits during the four years in question.”
When contacted, Mrs. Oduburu said: “I am a civil servant and I am aware you know that I am not permitted to talk to the press, I have a boss, so direct all your enquiries to my boss.”
