…as Police, CMD denies allegations, knowledge of petition, Delta Govt pays deaf ears
Tensions at the Asaba Specialist Hospital (ASH) have reportedly escalated as the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr. Peace Ighosewe, allegedly took internal grievances to the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, over what sources describe as unverified and frivolous accusations against some her management staff.
According to inside sources, Dr. Ighosewe visited Government House leading to the invitation of one of the accused sometimes on February 18, 2025, with the aim of implicating certain staff members, a move that some observers see as an attempt to silence perceived opposition within the hospital, after she allegedly reported the matter.
There are growing allegations that the CMD has developed a pattern of targeting staff who refuse to align with her directives, using her political connections to orchestrate their transfers or terminations.
Insiders claim that employees who question the CMD of the hospital’s affairs often find themselves forced out, especially if their employment records are incomplete (capturing), leaving them vulnerable to abrupt dismissal.
The situation appears to have taken a disturbing turn, with reports that some senior management staff have been petitioned to the Commissioner of Police on allegations of cult-related activities, accusations of her alleged kidnapping that many believe are a strategic ploy to remove dissenting voices.
In a related development, Dr. Ighosewe has reportedly brought similar petitions before the Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA) Health Committee, chaired by Hon. Ferguson Onwo.
The committee has now summoned the accused staff, alongside the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, who had previously intervened at the State Police Command in hopes of resolving the matter amicably.
A striking example of this internal strife was the transfer of a former Director, allegedly on baseless and unfounded charges, a move that many see as indicative of a broader campaign to consolidate control through intimidation and bureaucratic maneuvering.
As the controversy unfolds, stakeholders are watching closely, concerned that the hospital’s internal politics may be undermining its core mission of delivering quality healthcare to the people of Delta State.
One of the ex-directors accused who was transfered out of the hospital (name withheld), addressed the ongoing controversy and allegations being circulated regarding his professional standing, relationship with the Chief Medical Director and recent transfer.
According to multiple sources, the erstwhile Director served diligently in his capacity, saying that any attempt to discredit his integrity or question his loyalty to the service, should be seen as unfounded.
The One-time Director who pleaded anonymity, said: “She just said that I am planning to kidnap her and I have some boys. So, the intervention of the NLC chairman who came to the station and we have the whole thing resolved.
“She wanted to detain me from that period 20, of December 2024 till after the new year before the NLC chairman intervened. When the police observed that it was an office thing, so they decided to resolve the issue between me and her.
“And before then, the lawyer had written a petition and I have to go with a lawyer to the police. So when they now saw that it has to do with an office thing, a missing machine, in the office which I have constantly reminded her to be brought to the attention of the Commissioner, who I have not known, she took offense and got deeper with me.
“The next thing I knew, I was posted out of the place And as I speak to you now, as I speak to you now, me who is the director for eight years, I was sent to the hospital in Sample.
“On getting to the hospital, the management of the board said I was not their staff, they pointed at another person in the same office. In.my absent, the person broke into the office. In the corridor no office, until I now wrote to the Commissioner, the Commissioner was the one who deployed me.
“Surprisingly, the same people who said I was not their staff who actually ought not to deploy me, posted me to a village hospital in Abraka. So, I have to write to the Head of Service to say these are my plights. Since there is somebody in the office they posted me to, I don’t have an office, I am just redundant.
“A Director for eight years. January, I became a Director for eight years in the State, I am being made redundant, I don’t have anything doing as I speak to you. I only just go there sit down and closing time, I go home, they want to frustrate me so that I will leave the service in anger.
“So, later, the other officers were also petitioned by her to the police, they were invited and while they were preparing to go, the union got wind of it and told government to stop it or else, they will shot down facility.
“So, base on that, they couldn’t go, they were stopped from doing it but almost all the Heads of Department got out of there and before then, the Auditor who has drawn her attention to some irregularities in the hospital, she has sent that man to the Ibusa hospital and the man has no schedule.
“He just goes there in the morning, stay for awhile and go back home. He has done that for almost seven months now. That is just her style, she doesn’t want…she will make sure they remove you so that she can do whatever nonsense that she wants to do”.
When asked about the petition filed against him and others, he stated, “The petition was not made available to us. I was simply invited by the police, and others were also invited.”
“The lawyer wrote the petition on her behalf to Ant-kidnapping unit and she went there and made statement. So, I was now invited”, insisting that the resentment between him and the CMD has to do the laparoscopic machine which was “stolen”, in the office.
“Investigation has been completed by the GRA police and she was given the report but she hid it”, he alleged further.
The previous Director revealed that he was invited to the police headquarters by the current Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, through the Anti-Kidnapping Unit.
Contacted, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Asaba Specialist Hospital, Dr. Peace, refuted allegations circulating about her management staff, dismissing claims that she filed petitions accusing them of being secret cult members or planning to kidnap her.
In response to inquiries from The Story, regarding petitions allegedly sent to the State House of Assembly, the Commissioner of Police, and Government House, Dr. Peace expressed surprise, stating that she was unaware of any such documents.
“I do not appreciate accusations from faceless individuals. Again, I do not know of any petition on the subject.
“Thank you for seeking clarification. I hope you, as journalists, always do proper investigations before releasing statements relating to information that comes to you,” she added.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Edafe Bright, denied any knowledge of a petition to the police, stating, “I am not aware.”
At press time, calls and text message sent to the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, for the government’s response were ignored, as usual.
