Members of the Delta State Hospital Management Board Multipurpose Cooperative Society II have appealed to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the state Attorney General to intervene in a prolonged dispute that has left millions of naira in members’ savings inaccessible.
Members of the cooperative, including retirees, allege that more than ₦70 million in contributions remains unrecovered amid disagreements over the society’s finances and leadership.
The affected members are calling on the state government to facilitate the recovery of their savings and address concerns surrounding the management of the cooperative’s funds and landed properties.
Cooperative President Appeals for Government Intervention
Speaking with PUNCH Metro on Saturday, the cooperative’s president, Emelereta Emmanuel, said the dispute had stalled the society’s annual general meetings and created tension among members.
According to Emmanuel, members of the executive committee have faced threats from frustrated contributors demanding access to their money.
He appealed to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the Attorney General to intervene and help resolve the dispute so members can recover their savings and other assets.
Retired Couple Says Over ₦2m Remains Inaccessible
Among those affected are Herrieta and Julius Otobene, a couple who retired from service in 2025.
The couple said they had more than ₦2 million saved with the cooperative but had been unable to access their funds.
Julius Otobene expressed disappointment over the situation, explaining that they had expected to enjoy a peaceful retirement after years of public service.
“All we want is our money,” he said.
Lawyer Alleges Failure to Account for Contributions
A lawyer, Benjamin Amede, alleged that the immediate past executive committee had failed to account for contributions collected during its tenure.
He disclosed that members had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the matter.
According to Amede, the dispute resulted in court proceedings before the state Ministry of Justice convened a meeting on June 1 to explore an alternative dispute resolution process.
He said the parties were directed to withdraw their court cases, submit account statements and convene an annual general meeting by September, after which members’ funds were expected to be released.
Amede stated that the case was withdrawn on June 18, but the funds remained inaccessible.
He added that members wrote to the Attorney General on October 9, explaining that they could not organise the required meeting without access to the cooperative’s funds.
Leadership Dispute Complicates Resolution Efforts
Another member, Omogha Faith, said disagreements over the cooperative’s leadership and the release of relevant documents had complicated efforts to resolve the crisis.
Faith maintained that members had complied with the directives issued during the mediation meeting but could not withdraw the EFCC petition because it had been initiated by individual members and the investigation was still ongoing.
She appealed to Governor Oborevwori to direct the relevant authorities to intervene, adding that the prolonged dispute had left some members feeling unsafe.
Cooperative Secretary Raises Concern Over Accumulated Savings
The cooperative’s secretary, Israel Watite, an accountant at a hospital in Sapele, said members had contributed to the society for years, expecting to access their savings and dividends upon retirement.
Watite alleged that successive cooperative leaders had failed to properly account for the funds.
He estimated that the cooperative’s accumulated savings could amount to at least ₦800 million and possibly exceed ₦1 billion over more than two decades. However, he said members were still struggling to recover their contributions.
According to him, some retirees discovered that they could not access savings of ₦1 million or ₦2 million, leaving them distressed after years of making contributions.
Watite also alleged that members had encountered threats and other difficulties while attempting to change the cooperative’s leadership.
He said recovering the funds and restoring members’ confidence remained priorities for the current leadership.
Ministry of Cooperatives Yet to Provide Further Comment
When contacted on Sunday, Joseph Okotie, the Director of Cooperatives in the Ministry of Trade and Investment, said he could not comment at the time because he was attending church and requested to be contacted later.
However, subsequent calls and text messages sent to him on Sunday evening went unanswered. A WhatsApp message had also not received a response as of the time of filing this report.
Conclusion
The cooperative’s members are urging the Delta State Government and relevant authorities to intervene in the dispute, facilitate accountability and help ensure that contributors, particularly retirees, can recover their savings.
The allegations surrounding the cooperative’s finances and leadership remain matters requiring appropriate investigation and clarification from the parties involved.
Disclaimer: The financial and management allegations in this report are attributed to the individuals quoted. The allegations have not been independently established in this report, and a response from the relevant authorities and any implicated former executives would be necessary for a complete account.
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