The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Anambra State Branch has strongly condemned the reported kidnap, torture, and threat to the life of one of its members, Dr. Ofodile Ekweogwu, a consultant neurosurgeon.
In a press briefing on Sunday, the association detailed the disturbing incident involving Dr. Ekweogwu and some armed men identified as policemen from the Anambra State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).
According to the NMA, Dr. Ekweogwu had earlier treated and discharged a patient, Corporal Okona Stephen Ifeanyi of the Nigerian Police Area Command Nnewi, who was involved in a road accident and sustained a head injury in January 2024.
The doctor provided neurosurgery care, and the patient fully recovered, with his medical bills itemized and discounted. However, instead of paying the outstanding balance, Corporal Okona allegedly resorted to intimidation tactics.
The press release states that on March 16th, in collusion with some SCID policemen, Corporal Okona trailed Dr. Ekweogwu as he was leaving his clinic in Nnewi. The policemen blocked him with an unmarked Toyota SUV, grabbed him, and whisked him away without any prior invitation or warrant.
While in transit for over three hours, Dr. Ekweogwu was reportedly threatened and coerced to “settle” with Corporal Okona, which he refused.
At the SCID office, the doctor was made to write a statement in response to a petition and was taken to the hospital to gather evidence of Corporal Okona’s treatment records.
The NMA alleges that the policemen refused to release Dr. Ekweogwu on self-recognition and insisted on detaining him in Awka, despite attempts by association leaders to secure his release.
It was only after frantic calls from various leaders and an order from the Commissioner of Police that Dr. Ekweogwu was eventually released late at night in Nnewi.
In their resolutions, the NMA strongly condemned the kidnap, torture, attempted extortion, mental assault, and threat to the life of their member, whose only “crime” was treating a police officer and demanding payment for his services.
The association also demanded the immediate arrest, suspension, investigation, trial, and appropriate sanctioning of the culprit, Corporal Okona, and his collaborator policemen, stating that their dastardly act has brought grave disrepute to the image of the Nigerian Police Force.
