The management of the Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Akure (FUTATH) has declared that any employee found to have participated in an alleged employment racketeering scheme connected to the hospital will face prosecution. The hospital said investigations indicate that individuals posing as officials collected large sums of money from job seekers while issuing fake employment documents in the name of the institution.
In a statement issued by the hospital’s Head of Public Relations, Mr. Tope Fayehun, the management alleged that the suspected fraudsters demanded between ₦200,000 and ₦600,000 from applicants with promises of securing automatic employment at the newly established federal teaching hospital.
According to Fayehun, the victims were subsequently issued fraudulent appointment letters purportedly originating from the former University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) Teaching Hospital, Akure. He said available information suggests that unsuspecting job seekers paid substantial amounts before discovering that the employment offers were not genuine.
The hospital disclosed that some affected applicants, whose identities were withheld, have begun demanding refunds after realising they would not be absorbed into the federal establishment as promised. According to the management, the fraudulent scheme exploited the transition from the former state-owned teaching hospital to the newly established federal institution. The hospital urged members of the public to disregard unofficial recruitment claims and rely only on authorised government employment processes.
Fayehun further alleged that the ongoing industrial agitation involving organised labour may not be based entirely on workers’ welfare concerns. He claimed there were indications that some individuals connected to the alleged FUTATH job scam could be attempting to divert public attention from the employment racketeering allegations. The hospital, however, did not identify any specific individuals involved in the alleged activities.
The spokesman explained that the transition from the former institution to FUTATH is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Federal Government and the Ondo State Government. According to him, the agreement does not provide for the automatic absorption of every employee from the previous institution into the federal teaching hospital. He stressed that the management cannot disregard established Federal Government recruitment procedures or compromise due process under any circumstance.
Fayehun called on organised labour to carefully examine the facts surrounding the dispute before lending support to campaigns against the hospital.
He said labour unions have a responsibility to protect the legitimate interests of workers rather than become vehicles for advancing personal interests or shielding individuals allegedly involved in misconduct. According to the hospital, all employment into FUTATH must comply with federal guidelines and transparent recruitment procedures.
The management stated that anyone found culpable in the alleged employment fraud will face legal action. Fayehun said FUTATH will cooperate fully with law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies by providing all relevant information required for a thorough investigation.
He reaffirmed the hospital’s commitment to transparency, accountability and merit-based recruitment, adding that the institution remains focused on building a world-class tertiary healthcare facility founded on due process and the rule of law. The spokesman also appealed to staff, labour unions, stakeholders and members of the public to support ongoing efforts to establish the facts and allow the appropriate authorities to complete their investigations into the alleged FUTATH job scam.
