The University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), has admitted demanding money from human rights activist and president of One Love Foundation, Chief Patrick Osagie Eholor to carry out Covid-19 test.
Chief Eholor had dragged the management of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH); Chairman of Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 and Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Federal Minister of Health and Polaris Bank Plc, to the Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged extortion and outright corrupt practices as regards Covid-19 testing procedure.
Eholor, in the writ of summons filed before Abuja Federal High Court, narrated his ordeal at the hands of the management of UBTH, and averred 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.
However, in the recent statement of defence filed by UBTH new counsel, Idemudia Ilueminosen Esq, UBTH admitted demanding and collecting #30,000 from Chief Patrick Eholor in other to carry out routine Covid-19 test, sequel to Chief Patrick Eholor’s request to carry out the Covid-19 test before travelling out to Canada from Nigeria.
This is contrary to earlier press release by UBTH, that it never at any point demanded and collected cash from either Chief Patrick Eholor or anyone prior before carrying out any Covid-19 test that met the NCDC guidelines.
“Abuja Federal High Court has two different contradictory statement of defense filed by UBTH in this matter, as the matter/suit is now scheduled for 14th March 2022 for definite hearing.
“All the above is a pointer to the truth that a lot is happening at UBTH, and this case will reveal a lot of these issues ongoing at UBTH,” Samuel Ihensekhien, the legal representative of One Love Foundation said.
