The Anambra Branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has accused a policeman in Anambra State of using his office to intimidate a neurosurgeon who treated him without payment when he (the cop) was involved in an accident that caused him a severe head injury.
The cop is accused of kidnapping the doctor and harassing him in a bid to force the doctor to overlook his bill at the hospital.
The cop reportedly used his colleagues at the Anambra State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to perpetrate the act.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Anambra Branch, made the disclosure in a press conference.
In a press statement, the NMA said: “This press briefing is in response to an unfortunate incident involving the kidnap and assault of our member by armed men later identified as policemen from Anambra State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).
This dastardly act warranted an emergency state executive council meeting, arising from which this press briefing is being granted.
OBSERVATIONS
- Our colleague, Dr. Ofodile Ekweogwu, a Consultant Neurosurgeon, managed a patient in a private facility in Nnewi. The patient, Corporal Okona Stephen Ifeanyi of Nigerian Police Area Command Nnewi, was involved in a road traffic accident and sustained head injury in January 2024.
- He was referred to Eastern Specialist Hospital Nnewi after some days at another hospital where he was taken to after the accident due to persistent loss of consciousness. Dr Ekweogwu was invited and he gave Neurosurgery care to Corporal Okona, who fully recovered and was eventually discharged. His medical bill was clearly itemized and given to him. He requested for a rebate and it was given to him. He absconded from the hospital by scaling the perimeter fence but later returned, paid part of the bills but was allowed home on self recognition to complete the balance afterwards.
- Corporal Okona, rather than pay the balance of his bills, resorted to use intimidation to escape his debt.
Firstly, he came with armed policemen to the consulting room of Dr Ekweogwu in February 2024, to summon him without an official invitation to Nnewi Area Command of Nigerian Police Force. The Area Commander on learning about the case, admonished Corporal Okona and asked him to pay his outstanding bills for medical services given to him.
Still not satisfied, on Saturday 16th March 2024, in connivance with some policemen from Anambra SCID, they trailed Dr Ekweogwu as he was leaving his clinic in Nnewi in the afternoon, blocked him with a Toyota SUV (not an Official/branded Police vehicle) with 4 armed men in mufti identifying themselves as policemen from SCID, grabbed him and whisked him away in the boot of the vehicle. This is without any prior invitation. He was able to place a call to his wife to alert her of his situation before his phone was taken from him and switched off.
- Dr Ekweogwu identified one of the occupants of the vehicle as Corporal Okona he had treated. While in transit for over 3 hours driving around different parts of the state, Dr Ekweogwu was being threatened to “settle” with Corporal Okona before getting to their office, which he refused.
- Upon their arrival at SCID, in the presence of the Chairman of Medical and Dental Consultants of Nigeria, NAUTH Nnewi Chapter who had arrived earlier, Dr Ekweogwu was made to write a statement in response to a document of petition he was shown there. After which they drove him down to Nnewi at night, to get evidence of documentation of care he rendered to Corporal Okona.
The NMA called on the authorities to look into the matter and ensure that justice is done to their colleague.
