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Background
Prof. Adewale Musa-Olomu, the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, is facing serious allegations of corruption, nepotism, and fraudulent practices that have raised urgent questions about the integrity of one of Nigeria’s key medical institutions. Despite dismissing these accusations as the work of detractors, significant evidence points to repeated breaches of public service standards, leading to financial strain, low staff morale, and dysfunction within the institution. Now, there is mounting pressure on the government and anti-corruption agencies to revisit covered-up petitions against him in a bid to restore public trust and redeem their own standing.
Thousands of Allegedly Unlawful Hires and Bribes to Silence Opponents
Documents reveal that Prof. Musa-Olomu allegedly bypassed Public Service Rules (PSR) to hire over 2,000 staff members without advertising the positions or following required recruitment protocols. This hiring surge severely strained the hospital’s payroll, created funding shortfalls, and left new employees without essential tools and office space. Some reports suggest that recruitment was conducted informally, with verbal orders or even notes instead of official directives.
Moreover, Musa-Olomu allegedly allocated employment quotas to influential union leaders and officials to secure their silence or support. For example, Dr. Olusola Ibiyemi, the husband of FMC Abeokuta’s Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) Chairperson, was reportedly hired under questionable circumstances. Staff members have claimed this favoritism contributed to the union’s reluctance to confront Musa-Olomu’s actions, further silencing opposition and compromising transparency.
Bribery-for-Job Scheme and Unqualified Hires
An internal investigation into recruitment practices found evidence of a bribery-for-job scheme orchestrated by close associates of the Medical Director. Testimonies indicate that candidates paid substantial sums to secure positions at FMC Abeokuta, with one medical officer reportedly paying N700,000 for two individuals to be hired. Additional investigations implicated staff in receiving bribes and adding unqualified candidates to employment lists approved by Musa-Olomu. Although a committee flagged these issues, Musa-Olomu initially resisted implementing corrective actions, only conceding after pressure from the hospital’s board.
Debt Accumulation and Misuse of Funds
The rapid personnel expansion drove FMC Abeokuta’s debt to exceed N512 million by April 2021. Allegations also surfaced that Musa-Olomu diverted a N200 million fund intended for health worker arrears, instead channeling it to select staff members in the Finance Department. Following protests, management suspended these payments and ordered refunds, but many recipients, including Musa-Olomu himself, reportedly have not returned the funds.
False Telemedicine Project and Missing Equipment
Under Musa-Olomu’s direction, a telemedicine hall was commissioned in March 2021 with considerable publicity, only for critical equipment to disappear shortly after the opening. Sources within FMC Abeokuta claim that the telemedicine initiative was a fabrication and that equipment used during the launch had been rented solely for the event. Later, contractors were quietly brought in to replace the missing items. Staff frustration grew as limited office space forced personnel to repurpose other areas, sparking tension between patients and staff.
Procurement Scandal: Refurbished CT Scanner Priced as New
Financial irregularities under Musa-Olomu’s watch also included the acquisition of a supposedly new CT scanner for N230 million, which failed within four months of installation. Investigations revealed the scanner was refurbished, with some parts over a decade old. Expert analysis estimated that FMC Abeokuta paid more than three times the fair market value, sparking concerns about procurement mismanagement. Despite clear evidence of overpayment and misrepresentation, the supplier faced no punitive measures.
Documented Age and Identity Manipulation
Further scrutiny of Musa-Olomu’s personal documentation uncovered discrepancies in his age across various certificates, suggesting an effort to manipulate records to delay his retirement. From 1978 to 2012, different birth years and names appeared on official documents, a practice that violates Public Service Rules and has led to further calls for accountability.
Abuse of Office in Favouring Family Members
Allegations of nepotism include Musa-Olomu’s decision to grant his son, Engineer Mohammed Babatunde Musa, a paid study leave to Germany less than a year into his employment—a benefit typically reserved for long-term staff. Although ordered to return six months’ salary after a board investigation, the favoring of family members has underscored broader patterns of questionable decision-making and preferential treatment.
Calls for Government and Anti-Corruption Intervention
Given the weight of these allegations, stakeholders are calling on the Federal Ministry of Health, anti-corruption agencies, and relevant authorities to re-open investigations and take decisive action on the suppressed petitions against Musa-Olomu. Former 2nd Vice-President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Dr. Monday Ubani, SAN has earlier expressed concerns over the apparent disregard for Public Service Rules, urging the government to uphold standards of accountability and transparency by addressing the complaints.
“President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was widely voted into power for its promise to tackle corruption. What is happening at FMC Abeokuta—a blatant disregard for Public Service Regulations—is a test of that commitment,” Ubani stated. He urged the administration to ensure the investigations against Musa-Olomu proceed unhindered, emphasizing that failing to do so risks further eroding public confidence in the health sector and government integrity.
Conclusion
It seems all allegations of deep and extensive fraud that were levied against Prof. Musa-Olomu were deliberately swept under the carpet in a desperate bid to renew his second term in office as the Medical Director and Chief Executive of the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta.
Secondly, stakeholders are now much more worried and deeply concerned that impunitues and financial recklessness of Prof. Musa-Olomu have now escalated upon securing a second term in office
Given the above revelations, the stakeholders have now called for a special audit of the affairs of Prof. Musa-Olomu as the Medical Director and Chief Executive of the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta . A special audit, they argue, will further justify the basis for revisiting all pending allegations of corrupt practices in public office which have remained pending (but surreptitiously suppressed) to give Prof Musa-Olomu a soft-landing.
As Nigeria grapples with complex health sector challenges, the allegation against Prof. Musa-Olomu underscores the urgent need for transparency, ethical leadership, and accountability in public institutions. To this extent, stakeholders are urging anti-corruption agencies and government bodies to take swift, corrective action. By addressing these unresolved issues, they argue, the government can begin to restore confidence in both FMC Abeokuta and the broader healthcare system, sending a clear message that integrity remains central to public service in Nigeria.
