Who Owns St Luke’s Hospital, Asaba

Okolo Linus

St Luke’s Hospital when it fully commence operation must be rated as one of the highest hospitals in the Delta State. Shortly after the gargantuan structure was erected, close watchers of the structure with it fast erection said the hospital belongs to Dr. Ifeanyi Arthor Okowa, the former Secretary to the State government, others said it belongs to the governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan.

But in every atom of rumor, commentators said there is an element of truth.

Uche Lawrence Okpono, Chief Executive Office of ULO consultants Limited is a renown contractors popularly known at the northern part of the country, particularly in Kaduna State where he was brought up.

But his raps with the State government started long ago.

Investigation revealed that during the administration of the former Military Administrator of the state, Ibrahim Kefas, Austin Izagbo the then appointed Chairman of the Task Force on the Accelerated Government House Project, was said to have recommended and brokered the purchase of an Estate belonging to Okpuno, at the sum of N25million.

Close watchers of Okpuno’s hob-nub with the state government in recent time based on the level of contracts awarded to the company (U.L.O), maintained that there is a secret deal between the duo.

The secret deal was recently laid open when the Delta state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan came to claim the ownership of St Luke’s Hospital but was bluntly informed by Okpunor that the hospital belongs to him, (Okpunor).

An inside source close to the Asagba of Asaba, his Royal Majesty (Obi) Prof. Chike Edozie, disclosed that Uduaghan was not satisfied with response from Okpunor took the matter to his Royal Majesty, the Asagba of Asaba.

According to the source, Okpunor was invited to the palace, and when the matter was laid naked, Okpunor according to the source produced over-whelming documents depicting his ownership of the Hospital; with these the source averred that Uduaghan left the Palace and was flabbergasted.

When contacted, the secretary to the Royal father Chief John Iloba did not comment on the matter.

When the Hospital located close to the office of the State Deputy Governor was visited, the private security guards on duty asked the reporter if he was in the hospital to submit his employment application letter.

Further investigation revealed that the hospital is breeding ground for the commencement of operation. As two sand tippers, one with Reg number XC787Asab belonging to ULO were seen parked in the hospital’s compound.

It will be recalled that in 1995 the state government awarded the contract for the construction /completion of the new state government House to ULO consultants Limited at the sum of N3, 100,000,000.00.

The contract was earlier awarded to Contain West Africa PLC, in 30th November 2000, at the cost of N1, 485,000,000,00 with about 25% mobilization moved into site and work started according to the former Commissioner for Special Duties (Government House Complex Asaba) Mr. Onochie Okonkwo.

Until 2003 according him, the site was abandoned by costain West Africa after an upward review of the contract sum, Onochie averred.

It will also be recalled that the construction for the Asaba International Airport is also awarded to ULO consultants Limited at the cost of N6, 477,907,484,81, before the recent inflation of the cost to about N20billion Naira by the state government.

The Asaba Ugheli dualization project, the sector C is also awarded to ULO consultants limited at the cost of N 6.174,904, 499.60 according to the document in possession of our reporters.

As the event on the hospital’s ownership continue to formulate, observers are keenly watching and waiting to know the outcome of the drama/tussle between Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and the renowned contractor, Mr. Uche Okpunor.

Time will indeed tell what the outcome will be.