How quack doctor performed over 500 surgeries

A quack medical doctor was apprehended in Adamawa State after performing surgeries leading to deaths of many in five years of “practice.”   Authorities in Adamawa State were shocked over the discovery of a fake doctor who gained employment with the state Ministry of Health since 2015 and rose to the rank of Principal Medical […]

A quack medical doctor was apprehended in Adamawa State after performing surgeries leading to deaths of many in five years of “practice.”

 

Authorities in Adamawa State were shocked over the discovery of a fake doctor who gained employment with the state Ministry of Health since 2015 and rose to the rank of Principal Medical Officer, performing hundreds of surgical operations.

Until his arrest last week, Ibrahim Mustapha who holds the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) certificate, an equivalent of the West African Examination (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO), forged an MBBS degree certificate of Bayero University, Kano, NYSC discharge certificate and the National Medical and Dental Council licence.

In his five years of “medical practice”, the con man managed the cottage hospitals in Mayo Belwa and Fufore local government areas, where he served as the head, personnel until his arrest.

Some of his patients interviewed said Ibrahim exudes unusual confidence as a medical personnel and showed seriousness in the job but his relationship with subordinates had been frosty.

A civil servant, Ibrahim Mayo said the suspect was regarded as competent and an intelligent doctor in the community because he treated many people successfully but his ethical conduct had always been below standard.

“He treated my father for long. He seemed to be a good doctor and won the trust of my family but many of his patients complained of his arrogance and impatience towards them,” he said.

A staff at Fufore Cottage Hospital, who spoke to Daily Trust on Sunday under anonymity, said he had observed some missing professional elements in the conduct of his “boss” but nobody knew he was fake.

“We observed certain behaviours and that is why he saw us as enemies and complained about us to the Board. Under him, the hospital recorded 15 deaths in the theatre within a year,” he said.

When paraded by personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Yola on Thursday, the suspect said he performed more than 500 successful surgical operations in his five years of illegal practice.

He refuted investigators’ report  that he was discovered through failed surgeries he performed, insisting that a less successful medical doctor became jealous of him and reported him to the authorities.

“I performed more than 500 major and minor surgeries including Cesarean Section successfully. I did not kill any patients as reported. I was discovered because I went for an interview with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria and passed. My colleague who failed the interview reported me to the authorities,” he said.

The suspect confirmed to journalists that a doctor friend in Gombe assisted him to obtain forged copies of certificates and licence to enable him secure employment with the Adamawa State Government. He blamed his action on poverty, saying he came from a poor family and therefore needed to find means of supporting himself.

The DSS Director in Adamawa State, Bolade Olori said the suspect had contact with medical profession in Gombe where he worked as ward attendant in various hospitals.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that Mustapha holds NBTE certificate. He perfected his illicit act in Gombe where he worked as ward attendant in several clinics. He was assisted by a practicing doctor who gave him sample copies of his NECO result, MBBS certificate from Bayero University, Kano, NYSC discharge certificate and Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria annual registration license, all of which he forged,” the DSS director stated.

The director urged members of the public to be wary of individuals who trade human lives for monetary gains, saying the service would welcome credible information from Nigerians on activities of such unscrupulous people.

Olori said the doctor who assisted Mustapha to forge certificates was also in their custody and the duo would be charged to court as soon as possible.

Adamawa State Governor, Alhaji Ahmadu Fintiri, commented on the matter when he received officials of the State Hospitals Management Board, vowing to take immediate action to sanitize medical profession in the state.

“I am highly disturbed with this unhealthy development that led to death of about 15 persons”, he said, pointing out that the “government will not take it kindly and whoever is involved must face the wrath of law. This is wickedness and government will not condone it.”