NMA Urges Prosecution Of Police Officer

The Ebonyi chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association last Thursday called for the immediate prosecution of an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) who allegedly brutalised a doctor.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the officer (name withheld) allegedly assaulted Dr Chukwujekwu Okafor for talking to his wife who came to seek medical attention at the Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki.

He allegedly beat up the doctor and sprayed tear gas into his eyes.

Other doctors revived Okafor and it took the intervention of Dr Paul Ezeonu, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, to calm them down.

Speaking to newsmen, Dr Chidi Esike, Ebonyi NMA chairman, said that the association would do all it could to ensure the prosecution of the police officer.

“The policeman alleged that our member was talking with his wife who is a Muslim, claiming that outsiders are not supposed to talk to married Muslim women.

“He is supposed to tell the world what his wife was doing at the hospital where people will definitely talk to her,” he said.

Speaking to doctors and other workers of the hospital, Dr Chidi Nwigwe, chairman of the hospital’s Medical Advisory Council (CMAC), urged immediate dismissal of the police officer.

“We assure you that no stone would be left unturned in ensuring that justice takes its due course in the matter.

“I, therefore, urge you not to take the law into your hands but rather allow it to take its due course,” he said.

Dr Kennedy Oti, the President, Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FETHA), Chapter, condemned the attack on the doctor.

“He was mercilessly beaten, attacked with tear gas and had his head hit severally on the wall by the police officer,” he said.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigative Bureau, Mr Fave Cemali, assured the aggrieved doctors that the command would handle the matter accordingly.

“The attack on the doctor is inappropriate and unjustifiable and we will handle it appropriately,’’ he said.