Members of the Delta State Hospital Management Board Multipurpose Cooperative Society II are calling on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the state Attorney General to help recover over N70 million in cooperative savings that have been withheld due to allegations of financial mismanagement. This situation has left both current employees and retirees without access to their funds, which they had intended to rely on after leaving service.

Emelereta Emmanuel, the cooperative’s president, expressed the urgency of the matter, stating that the ongoing delays have not only stalled the society’s annual general meetings but have also exposed executive members to threats from frustrated members. Emmanuel appealed for intervention, emphasizing the need to release the funds and recover the members' properties. "Our prayers are that the governor and the Attorney General should use their good offices to help release our withheld money, which is over N70 million, and help us recover our money and landed properties," he said.

Retirees Herrieta and Julius Otobene, who left service in 2025, lamented that their hopes for a peaceful retirement have been shattered. Julius Otobene shared their plight, stating, "We have more than N2 million in the account. We were supposed to retire in peace after paying our dues as civil servants, but now we are embroiled in this scandal. All we want is our money."

The financial turmoil stems from allegations that the previous executive committee failed to account for the contributions collected during its tenure. In response, members have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the matter. Lawyer Benjamin Amede noted that the dispute has led to multiple court cases, prompting the state Ministry of Justice to convene a meeting on June 1 to explore alternative dispute resolution.

During this meeting, it was agreed that parties would withdraw their court cases, submit account statements, and hold an annual general meeting by September, after which funds would be released. However, Amede reported that despite withdrawing their case on June 18, the funds remain inaccessible. "We could not conduct the AGM because there is no money. On October 9, we wrote a letter to the Attorney General, explaining that we could not organise the meeting without funds," he said.

Member Omogha Faith highlighted that disagreements over leadership and the release of necessary documents have further complicated the resolution process. She stated that while they have complied with the Ministry of Justice's requests, they cannot unilaterally withdraw the EFCC petition as it was initiated by individual members and remains under investigation.

Israel Watite, the cooperative’s secretary, described the situation as disheartening, noting that many members had contributed to the scheme with the expectation of having their savings available upon retirement. "It is painful and deeply regrettable to have invested your money in an arrangement with so much hope, only for all that hope to be dashed," he said. Watite also alleged that some past leaders of the cooperative had vanished or left the country, complicating efforts to recover the funds.

The Director of Cooperatives under the Ministry of Trade and Investment, Joseph Okotie, was contacted for comment but did not respond to inquiries. As the situation remains unresolved, members continue to express their frustration and desperation, hoping for swift action from state authorities to recover their long-awaited savings.