3rd December, 2021
By Jethro Ibileke
Two brothers, Ikechukwu Sunday and Lucas have been convicted and sentenced for assaulting some medical personnel on duty at the Intensive Care Unit of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).
The convicts were arraigned before an Egor Magistrate Court II, Evbuoriaria, Benin City.
In the case C.O.P. vs Ikechukwu Sunday & Anor, the accused were charged on a two-count charge of assault and malicious damage to property.
They resorted to assaulting some staff of the ICU of the Hospital and also destroyed some properties of the hospital, following the death of their father.
The court presided over by His Worship, J. Ogbeide, who found the siblings guilty on both counts, sentenced them to three months imprisonment.
Ogbeide, however, gave them an option of fine in the judgement delivered on 18th November, 2021.
Meanwhile, the Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Prof. D.E. Obaseki has reiterated his call for members of the public to stop all forms of assault against health workers in the course of performing their duties.
This is even as he gave assurance of the Hospital’s management to do all within its powers to protect staff and students in the performance of their lawful duties and would not tolerate any assault against its workforce.
Obaseki who gave the assurance in a statement by the Hospital’s Head of Public Relations and Protocols, Joshua Uwaila, thanked the Deputy Governor of the State, Philip Shaibu, who was on ground to broker peace when the health workers threatened to go on strike in the face of incessant attacks by patients’ relatives.
He also thanked the Commissioner of Police Mr. Philip Ogbadu, for his swift response on the day the assault occurred and for diligent prosecution of the case.
The CMD also assured members of the public that the hospital will not rest on its oars in its avowed commitment to providing quality healthcare services to its teeming clients.
In a related department, the management of UBTH has charged members of staff of the Hospital to continue to render top-notch services to patients and clients of the Hospital.
The management stated that it would not shield any erring staff who is found wanting in the event of the establishment of a case of misconduct or serious misconduct against him/her.
It noted that three members of staff of the hospital recently got their appointment terminated after due consideration by the Management Board for various offences.
Two others are at various stages of disciplinary investigation to determine their culpability or otherwise with regards to certain allegations bordering on financial impropriety.
Management assures everyone that the Public Service Rules would be adhered to strictly and every matter will be decided on its merit.