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Tag: Fake doctor

  • Suspected 43-year-old fake doctor arrested in LUTH

    Suspected 43-year-old fake doctor arrested in LUTH

    The police yesterday arrested a suspected fake doctor at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Mushin, Lagos.

    Adesina Opeyemi, 43, was said to have been practising for three years with forged medical certificates.

    The suspect, a resident of 1, Alowolodu Street, Alapere, Ketu, was said to have claimed to be a consultant gynaecologist.

    His arrest, The Nation gathered, followed a petition sent to the police by the hospital’s management.

    It was gathered that after investigation, Alakara Police Station under the supervision of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Adebisi Lateef arrested the suspect.

    Police spokesperson Oladapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said seven forged documents were recovered from the suspect, adding that he would be charged with alleged impersonation.

  • Fake doctor arrested in LUTH

    Fake doctor arrested in LUTH

    The police in Lagos Tuesday arrested a fake medical doctor at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba.

    43-year-old Adesina Opeyemi, was said to have been practicing for three years with forged medical certificates.

    The suspect, a resident of 1, Alowolodu Street, Alapere, Ketu, was said to have claimed to be a consultant Gynaecologist.

    His arrest, The Nation gathered was sequel to a petition sent to the police by the management of the hospital, as a result of suspicions.

    It was gathered that at the completion of investigation, Alakara Police Station under the supervision of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Adebisi Lateef moved in and arrested the suspect.

    Confirming the arrest, the command’s spokesperson, Oladapo Badmos, an SP, said seven forged documents were recovered from the suspect, adding that he would be charged to court for impersonation.

  • Fake doctor owes Fed Govt N17m

    Fake doctor owes Fed Govt N17m

    An assessment by Integrated Personnel and Payment Information System (IPPIS) has shown that Martin Ugwu Okpe, who impersonated his friend to work in the Ministry of Health since 2006, owes the Federal Government more than N17million in salaries and allowances.

    IPPIS arrived at exactly N17,024,017.90 through pay slips and performance evaluation cards as money Okpe owes government.

    The amount excludes tax and union dues through nine years which were paid to the government, according to IPPIS.

    The health ministry is looking for “full retrieval” of money that accrued to Okpe in the past nine years, according to Permanent Secretary, Linus Awute.

    Okpe worked in the Department of Health Planning Research and Statistics as a Grade-12 senior medical officer using the credentials and name of a Dr George Davidson Daniel, his friend and a doctor doing residency in Jos.

    Okpe was charged to court last Tuesday  and remanded in Kuje prisons pending the fulfilment of his bail condition. The court will hear the case on October 10.

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  • Police arraign ‘fake doctor’ employed by Fed Govt

    Police arraign ‘fake doctor’ employed by Fed Govt

    A 44-year old man, Martins Ugwu Okpe, who allegedly cloned his friend’s credentials, with which he got employment as a doctor for about nine years in the Federal Ministry of Health, has been arraigned by the police.

    Okpe, arraigned on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, was accused of stealing certificates  of Exemption issued by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and General Certificate of Education (Ordinary Level), belonging to Daniel Davidson George.

    A five-count charge was brought against him.

    He was charged, among others in the five-count charge, of claiming ownership of the certificates and tendering them before the Federal Civil Service Commission in Ebonyi State and was offered a temporary letter of appointment, dated August 30, 2006.

    He was arrested last June.

    A recent verification exercise conducted by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) on June 4, 2015, allegedly exposed him.

    Okpe was said to have chaired the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja chapter.

    Count one of the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/296/2015 reads: “That you Martins Ugwu Okpe, male, aged 44 years, of the Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on or about March 13, 2006, at an unspecified hour in Karu Abuja of the Abuja Division, committed stealing; and did steal certificates of Bachelor of Medicine and National Youth Service Corps Exemption dated February 8, 2005, with serial number 000027400, property of Mr. Daniel Davidson George, being the certificate awarded to him by the Senate of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State, dated August 29, 2002 and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 383 and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Law.”

    Okpe, of average height, was dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a white T-shirt, embossed with the sign: “Africa against Ebola,” produced by the Federal Ministry of Health’s Ad Hoc Committee on Ebola Virus Disease, where he served during the outbreak of the disease last year.

    Okpe pleaded not guilty. Justice Gabriel Kolawole granted the accused bail in terms and conditions agreed upon by the prosecution and defence lawyers, Malik Taiwo and O. O. Otemu.

    Taiwo  filed a counter-affidavit to Okpe’s bail application but withdrew it yesterday.

    Justice Kolawole admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in the same amount.

    The judge said the sureties, who should be either federal or state employees, must be on not less than Grade Level 12.

    He ordered that Okpe be remanded in Kuje Prison, Abuja, pending his compliance with the bail conditions.

  • Police arraigns alleged fake doctor employed by FG

    Police arraigns alleged fake doctor employed by FG

    The police Tuesday arraigned ‎ before a Federal High Court in Abuja, a 44-year old man, Martins Ugwu Okpe, who allegedly cloned his friend’s credentials, with which he gained employment as a medical expert for about nine years with the Federal Ministry of Health.

    Okpe was accused of stealing certificates ‎of exemption of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and General Certificate of Education (Ordinary Level), all belonging to Daniel Davidson George.

    He was accused, in a five-count charge brought against him, of claiming ownership of the certificates ‎and tendered them before the Federal Civil Service Commission in Ebonyi State upon which he was offered a temporary letter of appointment dated August 30, 2006. He was arrested last June.

    A recent verification exercise of professional skills of residence doctors, conducted by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) on June 4, 2015 allegedly revealed the accused person’s true identity.

    Okpe was said to have risen to become the Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in the Federal Ministry of Health Abuja chapter.

    Count one of the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/296/2015 reads, “That you Martins Ugwu Okpe, male, aged 44 years, of the Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on or about March 13, 2006 at unspecified hour in Karu Abuja of the Abuja Division committed stealing; and did steal Certificate of Bachelor of Medicine of Surgery and National Youth Service Corps certificate of exemption dated February 8, 2005 with serial number 000027400 all property of Mr. Daniel Davidson George, being the certificate awarded to him by Academic’s Senate of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State dated August 29, 2002 and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 383 and punishable under section 390 of the Criminal Code Law.”

    According to the charge, Okpe’s alleged offences are contrary to sections 383 and 486 of the Criminal Code law and punishable under sections 390 and 467 of the same law.

    Okpe, of average height, was dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a white T-shirt embossed with the sign: “Africa against Ebola,” produced by the Federal Ministry of Health’s ad hoc committee on Ebola Virus Disease, where he served during the outbreak of the disease in the country last year.

    Okpe pleaded not guilty to the charge, following which Justice Gabriel Kolawole grant the accused person bail in terms and conditions agreed upon by both the prosecution and defence lawyers, Malik Taiwo and O. O. Otemu.

    Taiwo, who had filed a counter-affidavit to Okpe’s bail application, withdrew it in court on Tuesday.

    Justice Kolawole granted bail to the accused in the sum of N1m with two sureties in the same amount.

    The judge said the sureties, who should be in the employment of either the federal or state, must be not less than Grade Level 12. The court ordered that he should be remanded in Kuje prison, Abuja pending when he is able to meet the bail conditions.

  • Fake doctor: My life in danger, says friend

    The friend of the fake doctor, George Davidson Daniel, has said his life is in danger.

    Dr. Daniel, whose identity was assumed by his bosom friend, Martins Ugwu, told reporters yesterday at a briefing in the Ministry of Health, Abuja, that he was afraid.

    “I hope when I leave here, my safety will be guaranteed and I hope that the concerned security agencies  will know what to do.”

    Daniel, who did not want to respond to questions from reporters, said he never envisaged that a day like this would come.

     “I never thought that a day like this will come. The event has distracted me and I hope that after today, I can move on with my life,” he said.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Linus Awute, vowed to recover all the funds collected by Ugwu  in the nine years he was with the ministry.

    Awute directed the Director of Finance to compute the money paid to him within the period he assumed his friend’s identity.

    The ministry also absolved itself of any wrong in the employment of the fake doctor.

    The permanent secretary talked about the rot in the system, saying the fake doctor got the job a week after he applied for it.

    Besides, he said from the way the suspect behaved, it was obvious he (Martins) was not working alone.

    Awute urged international agencies and development partners to disregard all petitions from the suspect.

    He said the suspect and his gang do not mean well for the ministry and the nation.

  • Police parades fake doctor

    The Nigeria Police Force Tuesday paraded a fake doctor for impersonation and other offences.

    Until his arrest, the suspect, Martins Ugwu Okpe, a level 13 officer had worked in the Federal Ministry of Health as a Medical Doctor impersonating his friend who is a medical doctor, Dr. George Davidson Daniel for nine years.

    The Federal Civil Service Commission had asked the IG to initiate the process of investigation and prosecution of Martin Ogwu Okpe after discovering that he gained access into the Civil Service impersonating his friend.

    The 44 year old suspect, who hails from Benue State, admitted that he never attended any higher institution.

    He however claimed that he impersonated his friend because he wanted to uncover the mess in the health sector.

    The suspect who was paraded at the Force headquarters in Abuja is expected to be charged to a court in few days time.

    According to the Deputy Force Spokesman, Abayomi Shogunle, “Okpe a native of Ogbadibo LGA of Benue state dishonestly took away copies of the academic credentials of a friend named George Davidson Daniel, a medical doctor practicing in Jos without his knowledge and used same to secure appointment with the Federal ministry of Health in Abuja claiming his identity since 2006.

    “He has been parading himself as medical doctor in the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja for almost one decade and was among medical volunteers trained by the ministry in conjunction with the African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) in Liberia.

    Shogunle added:  “Martins Ugwu Okpe would soon be arraigned in a court of competent jurisdiction for the offences of theft, impersonating a medical doctor, wearing and carrying token used by medical doctors, dishonestly receiving what he is not due for, framing of incorrect document with intent to cause injury, breach of official trust, criminal intimidation and intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, all in contravention of section 288, 132, 133, 122, 124, 99, 398 and 399 respectively of Penal Code laws of the federal republic of Nigeria.”

    The Force however advised Nigerians to ensure diligence in keeping valuable documents to avoid falling prey to unscrupulous elements.

  • Commission asks IGP to prosecute ‘fake doctor’

    THE Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) has asked the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, to investigate and prosecute one Mr. Martins Ugwu.

    Ugwu, according to the commission, impersonated his friend, Davidson Daniel George (a medical doctor), to gain employment into the Federal Civil Service since 2006.

    A letter to the Inspector General of Police dated June 11, 2015 and signed by its chairman, Deacon Joan Ayo, indicated that the commission decided to look into a petition against the medical doctor by a group and its findings revealed that he was an impostor.

    The letter reads: “The investigation commenced when a group of petitioners alleged that a “Dr. George David Daniel” appeared to be a fake doctor. On FCSC investigation and based on a letter Ref. No. MDCN/760/Vol.II/99 of June 4, 2015, from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, the FCSC discovered that the man under investigation is actually Mr. Martins Ugwu, who stole the certificate of his friend to impersonate and take up appointment as a medical doctor.”

    Ugwu, according to the letter, has been using Daniel’s certificate to work for nine years before the discovery.

    FCSC, in the letter, alleged that Ugwu, on discovery that his cover has been exposed, threatened to the friend he impersonated.

    The commission attached the letter from the MDCN conforming that Ugwu has been impersonating George, who is undertaking his Residency Training in Jos, Plateau State.

    In the letter, MDCN said it summoned and interacted with the genuine doctor, who gave some vital information which further confirmed Ugwu as an impostor.

    “Council has reported the matter to the law enforcement agency as a case of impersonation, with the genuine doctor deposing to a statement with regards to what happened between him and the fake doctor, whose real name Mr. Martins Ugwu,” said MDCN.

    Also attached to the letter is another letter from the Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, which disowned the accused as a graduate from the faculty.

  • Fake medical doctor bags two-year jail term in Ondo

    An Akure Chief Magistrate Court has sentenced a 30-year old fake medical practitioner, Wembe Martins to two years imprisonment for presenting himself as a Medical Doctor.

    The court presided over by Magistrate Olubunmi Dosunmu also found Martins guilty of illegal operation of hospital.

    Delivering his judgment, Dosunmu, a Chief Magistrate said the prosecution has proved the case beyond reasonable doubt that the convict held himself out as a medical doctor without a requisite qualification and also administer treatment to people when he is not eligible to do so.

    The convict, a Cameroonian who operates “Modern Specialist Hospital “with branches in the state was arrested in April, 2014 and charged to Court on a single count charge of holding himself out as a Medical Doctor without requisite qualification or registration contrary to
    Section 17(1) and punishable under Section 17(5) of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act Cap M Laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2014.

    Those who witnessed against the convict during his trial included a Police Officer, Egunjobi Sunday, Dr. Obaado Olatubosun who is the Director Hospital Services, Ondo State Ministry of Health and Chairman Medical and Dental council of Nigeria monitoring Committee in the state and Dr. Henry Okwuokenye,Assistant Registrar and Head of Inspectorate Division, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Abuja.

    Dosunmu in his ruling pronounced Martins guilty and sentenced him to two years imprisonment from the date he was arraigned
    in Court.

    Reacting to the judgment, the Prosecution Counsel, Wale Bamisile described the judgment as victory for the judiciary.

    In his reaction, Dr. Obaado expressed satisfaction with the judgment, saying the judgment will serve as deterrent to others.

    With the judgment, he said the medical profession will work to protect the populace from the antics of charlatans who parade themselves as medical practitioners.

  • Court orders retrial of alleged fake doctor

    An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure, the State Capital Tuesday ordered for the retrial of an alleged fake doctor, Joseph Fimusanmi, who had earlier been set free by a Magistrate Court.

    Fimusanmi was alleged to have secured an employment as a medical doctor with forged certificate at the State Specialist Hospital in Akure on May 13, 2012, shortly after completing his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in the same hospital.

    Suspicions arose as to the credibility of the accused as a medical doctor as claimed by him when he displaced lack of knowledge of basic medical procedures in the examination of patients.

    It was gathered that this caused the other doctors around to feel uncomfortable and suspicious, forcing them to inform the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Akure Chapter about this development.

    It was learnt that the association immediately searched the medical doctors record in Nigeria and the name of the accused person was not found among the about 67,000 registered medical doctors.

    The MDCN stated, “Fimusanmi presented photocopies of the document with which he got posted to the State’s Hospital. Document presented are annual practice license, certificate of full registration as a medical practitioner, photocopies of international passport of the accused, letter from NYSC for Posting.

    “When we search into the genuineness of the qualification of the accused, the result was that the documents the accused claimed to be his, actually belonged to another doctor Dr. Shinku Francis, a medical doctor working in Jos and who is duly registered as our member”.

    Despite all these was tendered at the Magistrate Court, the alleged fake medical practitioner pleaded not guilty to the two counts charge and he did not defend himself but entered a no-case submission to which the trial magistrate upheld.

    But in his ruling, the Presiding Judge of the State High Court, who is also the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Olasehinde Kumuyi said it is clearly seen that the lower court ignored cogent and credible evidence adduced before it and went on to concern itself with irrelevant matters such as whether the accused was employed as a civil servant.

    Kumuyi noted that the trial court prematurely decided the substantive suit, saying this clearly a case of “throwing the baby out of the bathwater”.

    His words, “a grossly misconceived judgment, it was because the trial Magistrate did exactly the opposite of what he was to do in ruling on a no case submission. As I said earlier all the Magistrate was required to do was to detemine if on the face of the case, there was a case for the accused to answer.

    The Chief Judge, however set aside the decision of the Magistrate court and also sending it back for hearing by another Magistrate Court within jurisdiction.