Collins Emeka Orji, a fake physician who ran a clinic in Ngarabe, Ekureku, Abi Local Government Area, Cross River State, has been taken into custody by the authorities.
The Magistrate Court in Itigidi, also in Abi LGA, issued an order remanding him to the Obubra Correctional Centre.
It was discovered that Orji has been running the hospital as well as himself without a licence.
The results showed that Orji ran Excellent Hospital in Ngarabe, Ekureku, up until Thursday, July 11, 2024, when the Cross River State Task Force on Health Quality and Anti Quackery paid him a visit.
According to Dr Dan Abubakar, Head of the Cross River State Task Force on Health Quality and Anti-Quackery, when they met Orji with a group of police officers, they realised he was not a medical doctor and lacked medical training.
“When the task force arrived at the facility with a team of Itigidi police officers, they met Orji, and after speaking with him, they realised that he was not a medical doctor and lacked medical expertise.
“His facility was also not registered with the state government,” one insider confirmed.
In a video of the conversation obtained by Vanguard, Orji is seen claiming to be a trained homoeopathic doctor but is unable to confirm this claim.
“He had no licence to do medicine or surgery in Nigeria, did not attend any medical institution, performed surgical procedures on his patients in his consulting room and lacked a certified nurse stall.
“The two young girls the task force met at the facility dressed as nurses admitted during interrogation that they were only working there as volunteers after dropping out of secondary school; they had no nursing training.
Dr. Abubakar went on to say that because he did not have any registrable qualifications with the Medical & Dental Council of Nigeria, we sealed Excellent Hospital in Ngarabe, Ekureku, before transporting him to the Itigidi police station.
Orji, who appeared in magistrate court, was tried and given bail. He was detained in prison custody at the Obubra Correctional Centre after failing to meet the bail conditions, and the case was adjourned for further hearing on August 9, 2024.
Why this matters?
The arrest and imprisonment of Collins Emeka Orji in Cross River State underscores a significant issue with medical quackery and the potential dangers it poses to public health. Orji, who operated a clinic without any formal medical training or necessary licenses, highlights the risks unqualified individuals can bring to communities by providing substandard or dangerous medical care
Bottom Line
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of rigorous enforcement of medical regulations and the need for continuous monitoring to prevent such occurrences. The legal proceedings, including Orji’s remand to the Obubra Correctional Centre and the upcoming hearing, will likely serve as a deterrent to others who might consider engaging in similar fraudulent activities.
