A medical doctor, Okafor Ikechukwu, is being accused of attempting to rape a nursing mother, Chiamaka Ogbodo, who was his patient in his private hospital.
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Dr. Okafor, also a staff of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, was on Friday arraigned before an Enugu Magistrate Court.
He was however, charged to court for allegedly confining and detaining Ogbodo and her newborn baby, Kosisochukwu, in his private hospital located at Abakpa in Enugu, for a year and four months.
The allegation against Dr, Okafor before the court was that shortly after Ogbodo gave birth to Kosisochukwu in his hospital, mother and child were detained.
The prosecutor alleged that Okafor deprived them of their personal liberty and thereby committed an offense punishable under Section 316 of the 1999 Criminal Code, Cap 30 volume.
According to the charge, “you Dr. Ikechukwu Okafor from April 2016 to 8th day of July 2017 at Divine Grace Hospital and Maternity situated at No 10 Nsude Street Garki Awkunanaw Enugu, in Enugu South Magisterial District, did unlawfully confine and detain one Chiamaka Ogbodo and her child Kosisochukwu against their will.”
But after the court session during which the trial Magistrate, A. O. Eze, granted bail to the accused doctor, the National Publicity Secretary, Campaign for Democracy (CD), Dede Uzor Uzor who took the matter to the police expressed dissatisfaction with the way it was being handled.
Uzor said, “Yes the police tried to play a first one by not informing the complainants that the accused was to be arraigned. They also refused to include other charges such as attempted rape and the accused refusal to immunise the baby while in detention thereby exposing him to danger.
“We have lost confidence in the Garki police who are prosecuting the matter and hereby call on the Enugu commissioner of police to step into this matter and ensure that justice is done.”
