Fake doctor to refund nine-year wage to FG

Contrary to the civil service regulations, controversial Martins Ugwu, who has been working since 2006 in the Ministry of Health using the name, Dr. George Davidson Daniel, was offered a job a week after he submitted his application for employment.

The Federal Government has however ordered the Departments of Finance and Accounts and Human Resources to do a thorough computation of what he had earned for nine years with a view to ensuring that he returns the money to the government’s coffers.

“The ministry is currently computing all salaries and allowances which accrued to Ugwu during his mischievous sojourn in the ministry, for full retrieval by the relevant law enforcement agencies,” the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Mr. Linus Awute, said.

Awute also said that since the fake doctor assumed duty at the Health ministry, he had passed only one promotion examination in 2013, which placed him on Grade Level 13 from Grade Level 12.

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Ugwu was due to be promoted as Assistant Director in the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Health, before he was exposed.

Awute stated this on Wednesday in Abuja where the owner of the certificate, Dr. George Davidson Daniel, called on security agencies to protect him because his life was being threatened.

He also noted that Ugwu had collaborators in the ministry, adding that based on this, “we have sent another petition to the police to interview him to name his sponsors.”

The PS said it was necessary to place it on record that the ministry did not employ any of its members of staff directly, but through the Federal Civil Service Commission which has the statutory powers to do so.

Awute said, “Mr. Martins Ugwu Okpe, who hails from Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State, got himself employed fraudulently using the stolen documents of his childhood friend and best man, Dr. George Davidson Daniel, who has offered to appear at this press briefing to clear his name. 

Martins Ugwu was offered an appointment by the FCSC on August 30, 2006 and was posted to the Federal Ministry of Health in September same year.

“The surprising thing about Ugwu’s appointment is that he applied for the job on October 10, 2006. He was subsequently offered the job on October 17, 2006 and he applied for an identity card on the 19 of the same month.”

Punch