The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has again seized three ambulances meant for constituency project from a former member of the Federal House of Representatives, Pally Iriase.
While two of the ambulances were being used by a private clinic in Otuo, Owan East Local Government area of Edo State, the third one was recovered from Iriase’s residence.
Iriase, who used to be a Deputy Chief Whip, reportedly claimed that the equipment was parked in his house for safekeeping.
He was also said to have told officials of the commission that the key to the ambulance was with the elders, adding that he kept the ambulance to avoid it being vandalised as the Otuo General Hospital it was meant for had yet to be opened by the Edo State Government.
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ICPC sources confirmed that the ambulances were part of a constituency project for the use of the people of Owan but were allegedly diverted to the clinic
Officials of ICPC were said to have visited the general hospital to assess the over N200m medical supplies and equipment provided by the Federal Government as Iriase’s constituency project through the 2017 National Primary Health Care Development Agency.
“We found equipment rotting away at the hospital.
The ambulances we recovered are now in our office. We have done our report and we hope the state government open the hospital,” a source said.
The general hospital had been completed during the administration of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole but had remained under lock, leaving residents to seek medical attention in neighbouring towns.