EXPOSED! N500m Fraud Rocks Delta Contributory Health Scheme, CEO Nkechika Fingered

A stinking fraud running into over N500million naira has been uncovered in the Delta state Contributory Health Commission, BigPen Online has learnt.

The scheme is a health care financing programme where individuals and groups especially civil servants make monthly or yearly contributions to enable them access medical services in designated health facilities within the state.

It is a multi billion naira health scheme established in August 2016 through an executive bill by the Delta State Government.

Dr Ben Nkechika

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Investigations however revealed an alleged shocking kleptomania against Director General/Chief Executive Officer (CEO ), of the commission, Dr Ben Nkechika who allegedly grabbed the millions into his private pocket.

According to an impeccable source, Nkechika, a struggling Abuja – medical doctor, broke and bankrupt before his appointment as DG, Delta state Contributory Health Commission , has been allegedly pilfering funds of the agency since the past one year.

The source who spoke under condition of anonymity said the sum of N350 million take off grant meant for the purchase of computers, furniture and ancillary needs of the commission was reportedly misappropriated by Nkechika with fictitious vouchers into his personal bank accounts.

It was also alleged that he corruptly enriched himself with another state government approval of N90 million fund for advocacy by the commission .

The insatiable CEO was further accused of allegedly embezzling N150 million contingency fund of the commission through grandiose and fraudulent projects .

These allegations of widespread corruption against Dr. Nkechika were reportedly perpetrated with the connivance of a few staff of the commission, who the DG had continually bribed to allow his unrestrained thievery.

The Delta state commissioner for health, Dr Mordi Ononye whose ministry supervises the activities of the contributory health commission is said to be in the dark over the sordid affairs in the agency managed by Nkechika .

Sources revealed that the same scenario was prevalent under the tenure of the former commissioner, Dr Nicholas Azinge, who was sacked in February 2018 .

BigPen Online also gathered that the state primary health care agency has no knowledge of the operations of the commission.

“Every thing is shrouded in secrecy. Nkechika runs the commission like a cult. Only a handful of his cronies in the commission know what is going on. He is a high handed and incorrigible administrator. He is a greedy sole administrator who takes instructions from nobody and acts alone. He has stolen the commission sick and dry “, a staff said.

Further investigation on the looting of the commission shows, the DG is said to have acquired a brand new jeep, some plots of land in strategic locations at Asaba and also built two multi million Naira mansions at Abuja from the proceeds of his corrupt enrichment under the contributory health scheme.

Nkechika is also accused of lascivious lifestyle as a close source said he maintains a permanent suite in a high brow lodge in GRA section of Asaba where he regularly indulged in illicit activities.

While the alleged corrupt tendencies of the DG continued unabated, our investigation showed that some staff are already compiling petitions to EFCC over the huge fraud in Delta state contributory health scheme.