Serving and retired hospital workers in Delta State have appealed to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the state Attorney-General to intervene in the recovery of more than ₦70 million in cooperative savings they say remain inaccessible.
The affected members belong to the Delta State Hospital Management Board Multipurpose Cooperative Society II. They allege that the prolonged dispute over the funds has left workers and retirees unable to access money saved over several years for their future needs.
The cooperative’s president, Emelereta Emmanuel, said the delay had stalled the society’s annual general meetings and heightened tensions among members who are demanding the return of their contributions.
He appealed to the governor and the Attorney-General to use their offices to facilitate the release of the funds and assist members in recovering their money and landed properties.
Retirees fear their savings may be lost
Among those affected are Herrieta and Julius Otobene, a couple who retired from service in 2025. They said they had more than ₦2 million in the cooperative and had expected the money to support them after retirement.
Julius Otobene expressed disappointment over their inability to access the savings, saying they had fulfilled their obligations as civil servants and wanted to enjoy their retirement without the added financial uncertainty.
The cooperative’s secretary, Israel Watite, an accountant at a hospital in Sapele, described the situation as distressing, noting that members had contributed for years in anticipation of receiving their savings and dividends when they left service.
He alleged that the cooperative’s finances could be substantially larger than the amount currently being demanded, estimating that accumulated savings might have reached at least ₦800 million and possibly exceeded ₦1 billion over more than two decades.
However, the figures remain estimates provided by the cooperative’s representatives and have not been independently established.
Dispute over leadership and financial records
Lawyer Benjamin Amede alleged that the immediate past executive committee failed to account for contributions collected during its tenure. He said members had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the matter.
According to Amede, the dispute had led to several court cases before the state Ministry of Justice convened a meeting on June 1 to explore an alternative dispute resolution process.
He said the parties agreed to withdraw their court cases, submit account statements and hold an annual general meeting by September, with the expectation that the necessary funds would be released.
Amede said their case was withdrawn on June 18, but members had yet to regain access to the money. He added that the lack of funds had made it difficult to organise the proposed general meeting.
Another member, Omogha Faith, said disagreements over the cooperative’s leadership and the release of relevant documents had further complicated efforts to resolve the matter.
She also maintained that individual members had initiated the EFCC petition and that it remained under investigation, making it difficult for the group to withdraw it collectively as requested.
Members seek government intervention
The members said the prolonged dispute had caused frustration and anxiety, particularly among retirees who depended on their accumulated savings for their upkeep.
They called on the Delta State Government to ensure accountability, facilitate access to the cooperative’s records and help recover the money owed to members.
When contacted, Joseph Okotie, the Director of Cooperatives at the Ministry of Trade and Investment, declined to comment at the time, saying he was in church. Subsequent calls and messages reportedly went unanswered before the report was published.
The dispute remains unresolved, with affected workers and retirees continuing to demand answers and the return of their contributions.
