Anambra NMA Threatens Service Withdrawal Over Police Assault

Anambra State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has threatened to withdraw the services of its members from all the hospitals in the state if the police officer who harassed, kidnapped and tortured one of its members was not prosecuted.

In a 72-hour ultimatum the association issued yesterday, its chairman and secretary, Dr Jane Ezeonu and Dr Frank Ifeanaeme respectively, alleged that one Corporal Okona Stephen attached to the state police command, after, receiving treatment from one of its members, a consultant neurosurgeon, Dr Offodile Ekwuogwu, instead of paying for the service, intimidated him.

The association said the travail of its member started after he treated Corporal Okona of head injury he sustained in a road accident in January this year.

After he was discharged, Okona was said to have sneaked out of Ekwuogwu’s hospital at Nnewi without settling the medical bills, only to resurface and make part payment.

The NMA said despite that Ekweogwu even gave Okona discount on the bill and allowed him to make full payment when it is convenient for him, the police officer on February 16, 2024, accompanied by some of his colleagues stormed the consulting room without an invitation and took Ekwuogwu to the Nnewi Police Area Command.

The area commander on learning about the matter was said to have cautioned Okona and asked him to pay the outstanding bill.

Okona rather than obey the instruction, on March 16, 2024, trailed Ekwuogwu with some of his colleagues, intercepted him on his way home at Nnewi and took him to the State CID, Awka.

The NMA said, “Four armed men in mufti identifying themselves as policemen from SCID, grabbed him (Dr. Ekwuogwu) and whisked him away in the boot of their vehicle 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.

“They were in transit for over three hours driving around different parts of the state while Ekweogwu was being threatened to ‘settle’ with Corporal Okona before getting to their office, which he refused.

“On arrival at SCID, Ekweogwu was made to write a statement in response to a petition he was shown, after which they drove him to Nnewi at night, to get evidence of documentation of care he rendered to Corporal Okona.

“Following calls from leaders of our association who came to the hospital, Ekweogwu was reluctantly released on the order of the commissioner of police of Anambra State, who was eventually informed about the incident.

“After Dr Ekweogwu was released, Corporal Okona threatened verbally that he will use other means to get back at him, if the matter isn’t handled to his satisfaction by Nigeria Police Force,” the NMA statement reads further.

The NMA in its five-point resolution as contained in the statement demanded the immediate arrest, investigation and prosecution of Okona and his collaborators as their action, according to the association, was a dent on the NPF.

The association also demanded an undertaking of full responsibility for the safety of Ekweogwu signed by the Okona as NMA would hold the police responsible for any harm on him or members of his family.

When contacted, the police public relations officer, SP Ikenga Toochukwu, frowned at the allegation of abduction made by the NMA against the men of the state police command in connection with Ekwuogwu’s ordeal, arguing the ” police is a very legalised federal government institution and is empowered to investigate and also maintain law and order in the society.”

He insisted that police do not abduct anybody nor go into illegality saying that describing the police action as abduction is wrong.

He said Ekwuogwu was rather arrested and had been questioned on the allegations against him, “and he has made useful information that is helping us in our investigation.”