A renowned social crusader, Chief Patrick Osagie Eholor has sued and dragged the management of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), The Chairman of Presidential task force on Covid- 19, Mr Boss Mustapha, The Federal Minister of Health and Polaris Bank Plc to the Federal High Court Abuja, over alleged extortion and out right corruptive practices as regards Covid-19 testing procedures.
Patriot Eholor who is also the Founder of One Love Foundation, in the writ of summons filed before abuse, Federal High Court, narrated his ordeal at the hands of management of UBTH, and avered that he was compelled to cough out thirty thousand Naira for the test and another illegal three hundred and seventy five Naira for what he said the hospital referred to as administrative costs.
Further in what he filed before the Abuja Federal High Court, he narrated that in strict compliance with acquisition of Covid-19 certification before travelling abroad last year, he went to UBTH to undertake the compulsory test only to be asked to pay thirty thousand Naira as covid-19 test cost.
On getting to the cash registry of UBTH, he was told that there is a service charge for additional three hundred and seventy five Naira, and that in the circumstances above, he had no option than to instruct accordingly and vide the legal team of his foundation, One Love Foundation, to approach the Abuja Federal High Court to determine the legality for the outrageous payment for Covid-19 test and illegal extra excessive charges for same, which ought to be free in line with National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines in this regard.
Speaking to newsmen last night, Head of Legal Team, Samuel Ihensekhien, (an activist and fiery human rights lawyer) stated that the case and all evidence attached to the writ of summons is water tight and this case will expose the fraud as regards illegal charges for Covid-19 testing all over Nigeria.
As at press time on 3rd March 2021, the case has yet to be assigned to any Federal High Court Judge in this regard.
