Governor orders probe into diversion of hospital equipment donated by Nasarawa lawmaker

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has directed the Commissioner for Health to investigate the alleged diversion of equipment donated to Umaisha General Hospital by the lawmaker representing Ugya/Umaisha State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Sa’ad,

Sule gave the directive on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, following a recent viral video in which the lawmaker alleged that orthopaedic mattresses and fans donated by him to the hospital had been stolen.

The governor, who spoke at the inauguration of new commissioners, said the government would ensure that anyone found culpable after the investigation was dismissed and prosecuted.

Sule described the alleged theft and sale of the donated equipment as inhuman and unacceptable, stressing that the government would not tolerate actions capable of undermining healthcare delivery.

The governor said: “I cannot see how somebody who works in the hospital will now allow himself to sell what somebody donated to help the vulnerable.

“I have already asked the Honourable Commissioner for Health to investigate, dismiss and prosecute them.

“Firing those found guilty alone to go free will not give us peace of mind. We need to prosecute them for this inhuman attitude of theirs, to allow their people to die while they are enjoying the little money they sold the mattresses, probably at half price.

“This cannot be tolerated. I am waiting for the Commissioner’s report, and based on that report, I don’t even want to hear anything else.”

Meanwhile, Sa’ad in a statement issued on Wednesday, said the Nasarawa State Ministry of Health, in conjunction with the Hospital Management Board, had responded swiftly to the situation.

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The lawmaker expressed optimism that the matter had been resolved, adding that clarification had been made regarding the donated items.

Sa’ad disclosed that the items were donated more than two years ago and were kept in the hospital store, while some were used in the hospital quarters by staff posted to the facility.

He said his action was not intended to discredit the Ministry of Health or ridicule any stakeholder affiliated with the ministry.

Sa’ad stated: “My action is not aimed at discrediting the Ministry of Health, Nasarawa State, neither is it politically motivated to ridicule any stakeholder affiliated to the ministry.

“We are partners in ensuring that the health status of the indigenes of Umaisha/Ugya are important indices in measuring the success or otherwise of our people.”