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Serious allegations have emerged regarding the alleged unauthorized sale of critical medical equipment belonging to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) in Makurdi, with fingers pointed directly at Dr. Terungwa Stephen Hwande, a former or serving official associated with the facility.
In a widely circulated post on Facebook by user Asom D Jerry, detailed claims were made that Dr. Hwande sold a Philips 16-slice CT scan machine to one Mr. Williams Kayode for 35 million Naira. The post included references to accompanying images purportedly showing the equipment in question. Further accusations state that Dr. Hwande also disposed of BSUTH’s X-ray and scan machines, along with other valuable radiology equipment, to an engineer identified as Engr. Oliver of Oliver Resources in Makurdi, for the sum of 5 million Naira. These transactions, according to the post, were conducted at what were described as “auction prices.”
The allegations extend to the sale of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units intended to support high-end diagnostic machines. Specifically, the post claims that all hospital UPS units linked to the MRI, CT scan, and mammogram machines were sold off, including a 100 KVA UPS meant to power the CT scan, which was allegedly sold for just 3 million Naira.
The author demanded that Dr. Hwande provide a public account of the status and whereabouts of several items, including:
– The Philips CT scan
– The Philips X-ray and scan machine
– Hospital UPS units for the CT scan, MRI, and mammogram machines
– Machines currently in the hospital store
– Generators in the store
– Decommissioned radiology equipment
Additional questions were raised about the location of three decommissioned Philips X-ray machines and five Philips CT scan machines.
The post further accused Dr. Hwande of a pattern of deliberately removing fuses from functional machines at BSUTH to falsely declare them non-operational to government authorities, thereby facilitating their disposal through auction for personal financial benefit.
Tagging anti-corruption agencies, the post explicitly copied the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), calling for official investigation into the matter.
As of now, neither Dr. Terungwa Stephen Hwande nor the management of Benue State University Teaching Hospital has issued a public response to the allegations. The claims, if substantiated, raise serious concerns about the management of public health infrastructure, accountability in the disposal of government assets, and potential misuse of hospital resources in a state where access to advanced diagnostic services remains limited for many residents.
Public hospitals across Nigeria have long grappled with issues of equipment maintenance, theft, and irregular disposal, often leaving facilities under-equipped despite significant investments. The detailed nature of the accusations and the direct call for transparency have sparked online discussions, with many users urging relevant authorities to launch a prompt and thorough probe to ascertain the facts and ensure that public resources are protected.
Until official statements or investigations provide clarity, the allegations remain unverified claims circulating on social media. However, the seriousness of the accusations involving high-value medical equipment has placed renewed scrutiny on governance and oversight at BSUTH and similar institutions in the region.
