In a shocking revelation, a popular Nigerian TikToker identified as Mckeeny Sikpiti, who helped facilitate the fundraising for a young child’s surgery, has reported that the parents of the child used N4.6 million donated by the public for personal expenses, including purchasing church equipment and a motorcycle.
The father, Pastor Awowoye Paul Obembe and his wife, Esther Obember living in Ode- Aye, Okitipupa, Ondo State decided to squandered the public fund donated for the operation of their daughter, Halleluyah, who has been sickled since 2011. Ever since, she could not eat and an operation was carried out on her to be eating fluid like “Ogi” (pap), and custard, and pure fruit juice, among others.
When Sikpiti did not hear from the family that the surgery has been carried out, he traveled down to Ode-Aye to meet the parents and demanded for update, but they lied to him that they money was spent on the child. They eventually confessed in the police station to thier wicked act when Skipiti arrested them.
MC Skipiti Handed over N2.5m to Mr and Mrs Obember
These parent were initially economical with the truth in the hospital until Skipiti obtained the bank statements of the two parents which showed detailed of how they squandered the funds.
In their speech, the parents who did not show any remorse until they were threatened that they would be charged to court and if care is not taken, they would end it all in prison said that the fundraising dated back to September 2023, when Halleluyah, who had been suffering from a severe medical condition since 2011, could no longer eat solid food.
Her parents had initially sought help from the General Hospital in Ode-Aye and later the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), where they spent four months.
MC Skipiti Recovering Items Mr Obembe Used money Donated for his Daughter’s Surgery
The doctors advised that surgery was necessary, but the family could not afford the procedure.
Desperate, the parents turned to Sikpiti, explaining the situation and the need for N2.5 million to cover the cost of the surgery.
Sikpiti, who had been involved in raising funds for medical causes, started a public campaign, and donations began to pour in with him firstly donating N170, 000. Sikpiti collected the parents’ bank details, and within a short period, over N2.5 million was raised by compassionate donors.
However, Sikpiti was alarmed to learn that the parents did not use the funds for the intended purpose.
According to the father, the N4.6 million raised for the surgery was largely spent on personal items.
He confessed, “I bought a speaker for my church, a motorcycle for N700,000, and a phone worth N125,000 for Halleluyah to keep her company since she is always alone at home. She watches short play or movie online on the phone. We also spent money on other things, including a wireless microphone, generator, and speakers.”
Despite receiving the N2.5 million required for the surgery, the father admitted to diverting the rest of the funds for non-medical purchases explaining, “When the money reached N2.5 million, we didn’t touch it, but the other contributions were what we were spending.”
The family’s actions have left many Nigerians and their community outraged. Sikpiti, who was initially hopeful that the funds would be used appropriately, expressed his dismay, stating that the child’s health was never prioritised, and the mismanagement of funds has now delayed her treatment.
At the time of filing this report, the bank account of the father shows zero account while that of the mother has a balance of N7, 900.
The public’s generous donations, which were intended to help the child get the medical care she desperately needed, have now been squandered on luxury items instead.
As the child’s health continues to suffer, many are calling for authorities to step in and ensure that the funds meant for her surgery are used appropriately, while also addressing the parents’ misuse of public donations.
