‘Fake doctor’s’ trial stumbles over harassment

The trial of a man accused of impersonating his doctor friend hit another adjournment on Thursday, months after his trial began. Martins Ugwu Okpe was arrested after working as a medical officer at the federal health ministry headquarters for nearly 10 years, using the name and credentials of his friend, George Daniel Davidson. The stolen […]

The trial of a man accused of impersonating his doctor friend hit another adjournment on Thursday, months after his trial began.
Martins Ugwu Okpe was arrested after working as a medical officer at the federal health ministry headquarters for nearly 10 years, using the name and credentials of his friend, George Daniel Davidson.
The stolen credentials include an August 2002 MBBS certificate from Ahmadu Bello University and a February 2005 National Youth Service Corps exemption certificate, with serial number 000027400, both awarded to Davidson.
Davidson was still in residency training in Jos, and has stepped forth since last year to reclaim his name and documents.
But Okpe had amassed more than N17 million in salaries and allowances that the Federal Ministry of Health has said he would have to pay back because it was gotten fraudulently.
In the months since his trial began, Okpe has gone from the outspoken ‘medical’ official very visible in the Federal health ministry until his arrest to a silent lonely presence in the back of a courtroom.
This week, his counsel didn’t show up for his 9 am trial at a Federal High Court, Abuja, the same day the prosecution lined up a witness for testimony.
Prosecution counsel, Taiwo Malik debated going ahead with testimony of their witness and leaving Okpe’s counsel to pick up the trail from court records before preparing a date for cross-examination.
In the absence of a total stand down, the court moved on with other cases on its docket while waiting for Okpe’s counsel.
When his hearing got under way, Okpe, alleged to have faked as a medical doctor, told the court state agents have been harassing him since his arraignment.
His counsel Oghenevo Otemu said Okpe receives regular phone threats from people claiming to work for the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), the Department of State Services (DSS), State Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Otemu informed the court that after the last hearing of the case on February 18, operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) re-arrested and detained Okpe for three weeks in their facility in Abuja before filing fresh charges against him before an FCT High Court.
He said Okpe was denied access to medication despite medical report for him to undergo chemotherapy for six months.
Otemu said the denial aggravated Okpe’s ill-health. Okpe coughed into a handkerchief intermittently throughout the court session.
His lawyer asked for a restraining order against all federal agencies from re-arresting Okpe and for an order releasing all his personal items seized by the police since he is now on bail.
“It is becoming a case of persecution against the accused person. We apply for adjournment so that he puts himself together to face trial. It is only the living person that can face trial,” Otemu said.
Police counsel Malik opposed any adjournment, insisting Okpe was fit to stand trial. He asked the court to refuse Okpe’s allegations of state harassment because it wasn’t backed by sworn affidavit.
In his ruling, Justice James Tsoho held that the though the case was fixed for trial, the detention and re-arraignment of the defendant “constitutes intervening circumstance,” adding that his intermittent coughs while in the court were not simulated.
He therefore adjourned the case to July 6 for trial.
The judge asked the defence counsel to bring formal applications attached with affidavits for the prayers to restrain federal agencies from harassing the defendant and for the release of his seized items.
Okpe was in July 2015 arraigned on charges of stealing and impersonation which are punishable under Sections 390, 105, 467, of the Criminal Code law.