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Doctor suspended over ‘indecent’ relationship with patient

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The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria has suspended a medical practitioner, Dr Michael, for six months for malpractice and infamous conduct by enticing his patient a housewife, Ifeoma Orji.

The five-member Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal announced the sanction on Wednesday in Jos after the doctor’s trial.

The doctor pleaded not guilty.

The patient’s husband had petitioned that the doctor engaged in an “indecent relationship” with his wife.

The tribunal, chaired by Prof. Abba Waziri-Hassan, held that the doctor was found guilty on count one, when “between April 15 and October 25, 2014, or thereabout at ELROI Mission Hospital No. 22 Alhaji Baba Street, Jos Plateau State engaged in malpractice and enticed Orji during his medical practice”.

“By the said fact, Owoicho-Odeh conducted himself infamously in a professional respect, contrary to Rule 42.1 of the Code of Medical Ethics in Nigeria, 2008 Edition and punishable under section 16 (1) (a) and (2) of the Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Act CAP M8 LFN 2004 (as amended).

“On count two, he was found guilty when between April 15, 2014, to November 13, 2017, conducted himself infamously in a professional respect, when while in the full-time employment of University of Jos, engaged in private practice by owning and running a private medical practice known as ElROI Mission Hospital situated at No. 22 Alhaji Baba Street, Jos Plateau State.

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“This is contrary to Rule 49.2 of the Code of Medical Ethics in Nigeria, 2008 Edition, and punishable under Section 16 (1) (a) and (2) of the Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Act CAP M8 LFN, 2004 as (amended).

“Consequently, this Tribunal hereby sentence the Respondent Doctor, Michael Owoicho-Odeh to 6 (six) months suspension on each of the two counts to run concurrently.”

According to reports, the tribunal verdict was a fall out of a case between the Chairman, Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel and Owoicho-Odeh following a complaint lodged by Orji’s husband, Chief Maduabuchi, who had alleged that Owoicho-Odeh abused his position as a doctor to his family by engaging in an “indecent and financial relationship” with his wife.

It was on this premise that the matter was investigated by the investigation panel, which established a prima facie case against the Respondent- Doctor (Owoicho-Odeh) and accordingly, forwarded it to the tribunal for adjudication.

The prosecution had told the tribunal that Owoicho-Odeh committed the offences and should be punished for such professional misconduct.

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The prosecution had relied on documents tendered in evidence by PW 1, Dr Enejo Abdu, in his evidence as follows: Affidavit of Maduabuchi Orji dated Aug. 11, 2016 (Exhibit 1), Affidavit of Dr Michael Owoicho-Odeh dated Oct. 18, 2016 (Exhibit 2), and the CTC of case Notes of ELROI Mission Hospital, Jos (Exhibit 3).

Others are the Further and Better Affidavit of Maduabuchi Orji dated Dec. 21 2016 (Exhibit 4), 2nd further and better Affidavit of Maduabuchi Orji dated March 26, 2018 (Exhibit 5), First Information Report (Exhibit 6) and court process from Upper Area Court 1, Plateau State (Exhibit 7).

The prosecution further argued that infamous conduct in medical ethics connotes conduct so “disreputable” and “morally reprehensible” as to bring the profession into disrepute if condoned.

But Owoicho-Odeh, in his counter-affidavit, denied ever knowing Mrs Orji and her children at Samantha and that he established his own medical practice under the name, ELROI Mission Hospital on April 15, 2014.

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According to him, his first contact with Orji was on Oct. 25, 2014 (six months after he had established his medical practice).

He claimed that Orji was brought to his hospital by one Chukwuma Enweluani in a state of shock, following severe diarrhoea and a bout of throw-ups and was treated and discharged the following day.

The respondent further told the tribunal that Orji came to the hospital for follow-up on October 27, 2014, and November 2, 2014, with a persistent cough.

He further said that she (Orji) later brought her husband (the complainant) to the hospital on November 17, 2014, and was treated for high blood pressure and diabetes and that after his treatment, he (complainant) requested treatment of his children, wards and staff periodically.

Owoicho-Odeh also claimed that the last time he treated Orji was on December 26, 2015, and thereafter “I never had any improper relationship with her and the relationship between us had always been a strict doctor/patient relationship.

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Robbers steal car with three-year-old boy inside in Ogun

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A father, Taiwo Fayobi, has sought police intervention after some robbers stole his Toyota Camry car with his son in it in the Ikenne area of Ogun State.

It was gathered that Fayobi was attempting to open the gate of his house when the robbers entered his vehicle and drove away with his three-year-old son.

The development threw Fayobi into confusion and he raised the alarm over the incident.

He, thereafter, proceeded to the nearest police station to lodge an official complaint so the suspects would be tracked down and arrested.

 

Confirming the development in a post on X on Saturday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omotola Odutola, identified the number plate of the stolen car as PKA 446 GV.

 

The post read, “Stolen Car / Child. On May 11, 2024. One Taiwo Fayobi, a resident in Ikenne, Ogun State, reported he alighted from his Toyota Camry PKA 446 GV to open his gate.

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“Two hoodlums zoomed off with his car, with his three-year-old son inside. Influencers pls share to save the boy.”

 

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Canada fines Binance $4.38m for breach of money laundering laws

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The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) has fined Binance, a popular cryptocurrency platform, $6 million for violating the country’s money laundering and terrorist financing laws.

 

According to international media, the fine is valued in Canadian dollars, bringing the total amount to USD4.38 million when converted.

 

In a recent statement on its website, FINTRAC said Binance had failed to register as a foreign money services business with the intelligence body.

 

The anti-money laundering agency said the cryptocurrency firm also failed to report large virtual currency transactions worth $10,000 or more.

 

“FINTRAC announced today [Thursday] that it has imposed an administrative monetary penalty on Binance Holdings Limited, also operating as Binance Holdings (IE) Ltd., Binance.com, Binance Global and Binance,” the statement reads.

 

“This foreign money services business was imposed an administrative monetary penalty of $6,002,000 on May 7, 2024 for non-compliance with Part 1 of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act and its associated Regulations.

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“Binance Holdings Limited was found to have committed the following administrative violations: Failure to register with FINTRAC as a foreign money services business; and failure to report large virtual currency transactions of $10,000 or more in the course of a single transaction, together with the prescribed information.”

 

Commenting on the matter, Sarah Paquet, director and chief executive officer of FINTRAC, said the country’s anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing regime is in place to protect the safety of Canadians and the security of the nation’s economy.

 

“FINTRAC will continue to work with businesses to help them understand and comply with their obligations under the Act. We will also be firm in ensuring that businesses continue to do their part and we will take appropriate actions when they are needed.”

Adjudged to be the largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, Binance has been the subject of regulatory sanctions in some parts of the world.

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On April 30, Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, was sentenced to four months in prison for money laundering, unlicensed money transmitting and violations in Seattle, United States (US).

 

According to US officials, Zhao intentionally turned a blind eye to transactions that financed terrorism, the illegal drug trade, and child sex abuse.

 

Earlier in February, a federal judge in the US approved a plea deal by Binance, requiring the cryptocurrency exchange to pay over $4.3 billion in fines and reparations.

 

Binance is also under investigation for illicit operations and foreign exchange (FX) rate manipulation in Nigeria.

 

The firm, and two of its top officials — Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s regional manager for Africa, and Tigran Gambaryan, the company’s head of financial crime compliance — were charged with tax evasion and money laundering by the federal government.

 

The duo were arrested and detained on February 28 — but Anjarwalla escaped from custody in March.

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After five days, body of missing Lagos drainage worker recovered

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After days of intensive search, the corpse of a drainage worker, who got trapped while clearing the debris that blocked a tunnel in the Onipanu area of Lagos State has been recovered.

Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, while confirming this in a statement on Friday, identified the deceased as 59-year-old Tajudeen Amololo.

 

The LASEMA boss in the statement said, “The victim identified as Mr. Tajudeen Amololo (age-59) has been recovered dead from the drainage and bagged by cobra team subsequently handed him over to LAMATA (Drainducks) with the Nigeria Police Force Ilupeju Division officials for adequate action.

“Recovery operation concluded while cobra team with the agency’s paramedic heading back to base.”

 

The sad incident happened on Monday while the victim was de-silting drainage in the community.

 

Oke-Osanyintolu noted that the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority employed a male adult who works for Drain Ducks.

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