The President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Bala Mohammed Audu, risks jail over his decision to suspend the NMA Enugu State Branch Chairman and members of the immediate past State Officers’ Council.
SaharaReporters reported earlier that the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) had imposed sanctions on nine members of the association in Enugu and Delta states.
According to a communique issued at the end NEC meeting and annual general/scientific conference held in Katsina state between April 28 and May 2nd, the affected doctors include Dr. Esther Ekwe, Dr. Sunday Okafor, Dr. Nwachukwu Ogbonna, Dr. Jude Onyia, Dr. Onyebueze John Ugochukwu, and Dr. Sam Ohaegbulam in Enugu state, and Dr. Marcel Onochie, Dr. Samuel Agboma, and Dr. John Afam Osemen in Delta state.
The sanctions were imposed for taking the association to court without exhausting internal dispute resolution mechanisms.
Reacting in a letter addressed to the NMA President and Secretary about the NEC decision, the NMA Enugu State said it has commenced contempt of court proceedings against Audu, accusing him of “executive rascality, sheer recklessness, impunity, and show of shame.”
According to the letter jointly signed by Chairman and General Secretary, Rtn. Dr. Sunday Okafor and Dr. Chima Edoga, respectively, the association said the suspension was unlawful and disregarded a subsisting court order.
“We wish to refer to your publication… it was reported that our very revered BoT Chairman and Foundation President of the Nigerian Academy of Medicine, Emeritus Prof. Sam Ohaegbulam and members of the immediate past State Officers’ Council (SOC) of NMA Enugu State Branch have purportedly been suspended.”
“The matter in question is a subject of litigation with a subsisting order of court against you, the Secretary General and four (4) others, which you are under obligation to obey, but have regrettably continued to flout,” the statement read.
The NMA Enugu State emphasised that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria empowers citizens, groups, or individual members of any organisation to seek legal redress on any matter without being encumbered or impeded. “Courts of our land have in the past, expressly ruled on this, against the NMA,” the statement noted, citing Dr. Kenenna Obiatuegwu vs NMA and Dr. Fredrick Awkadigwe vs NMA as examples.
The association pointed out that the NMA President’s actions are a blatant disregard for the rule of law and the NMA constitution. “The quoted section 25;8, refers to member, group or state branch, but for mischief and convenience, you excluded State branch in your citation, knowing fully well that the pending legal matter is between NMA Enugu State vs You & 5 Ors,” the statement read.
The NMA Enugu State accused Audu of attempting to foist unwanted and unqualified individuals on law-abiding medical practitioners in Enugu State, despite an express order of court. “Nothing else depicts ineptitude in leadership more than this,” the statement said.
The NMA Enugu State asserted that leadership emergence at all levels of NMA is strictly by members’ votes and willful mandate via elections as constitutionally provided for and not by mere NMA presidential pronouncement or posturing. “No amount of presidential or individual pronouncements, insertion of forged clause(s), brutality and intimidation will make an individual not elected by his people (the Congress) secure any legitimacy to lead them,” the statement emphasized.
The NMA Enugu State warned that Audu’s actions will have serious legal consequences, particularly in relation to the handling of Annual Practicing Fees. “It will be in Mr. President’s best interest to ensure that our share of Annual Practicing Fees are not channelled to the impostors and known renegades, to embezzle,” the statement cautioned.
The association has drawn attention to alleged misconduct by some individuals, including Dr. Mike Ogirima, who was accused of transforming himself into a CTC and usurping the powers of the duly elected members of the State Officers Council.
The NMA Enugu State also accused the National Treasurer, Dr. Celestine Ugwoke, and others of diverting and embezzling funds. “The National Treasurer, Dr. Celestine Ugwoke and his co-travellers who allegedly used his elder brother’s (Mr. Emeka Ugwoke) pukka scheme as one of the fronts to divert and embezzle our funds will sooner than later have their days in court,” the statement warned.
The association emphasised that it will not sit back and watch the NMA President and some self-serving members of the NOC unlawfully abuse, arm-twist, disrespect, and denigrate the NMA Enugu State Branch. “We have since moved on and are doing very well as an Association. But, we have also resolved that the impunity and lawlessness must end,” the statement declared.
The NMA Enugu State called on media houses, banks, security agencies, stakeholders, and the general public to take note of the situation and take appropriate actions.
“The attention of media houses, banks, security agencies, stakeholders in the State and the Nigerian federation as well as the general public is hereby drawn to the content of this correspondence for appropriate action.”