C'River Health Quality Taskforce Closes Illegal Clinic, Arraigns Quack Medic
By Ebi COLLINS
Consistent with the Cross River state government's stance against quackery in the health sector, the State Taskforce on Health Quality and Anti-quackery has, recently, shutdown a facility at Ngarabe, Ekureku, Abi local government area of Cross River State, and arraigned its alleged quack operator, Collins Orji, for investigation and prosecution by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The alleged quack, Collins Orji, had, until his arraignment, operated a medical centre at Ngarabe, Ekureku, Abi LGA, and when confronted by the State Taskforce on Health Quality and Anti-quackery among a team of security operatives, made unfounded claims of being a medical doctor. He was, afterwards, arrested by the police, and charged to the Magistrate court, Itigidi. He is currently remanded in custody at the Obubra Correctional Centre, having failed to meet bail conditions.
A source told THE BEAGLE NEWS that Orji had operated Excellent Hospital at Ngarabe, Ekureku until the Cross River State Taskforce on Health Quality and Anti Quackery accosted his facility on Thursday, July 11, 2024, sealed it and apprehended the alleged fake medic.
"When the Taskforce arrived the facility with a team of police officers, they met Collins Orji, and after some interrogation, it was discovered that he was not a medical doctor and had no professional medical training. His facility was also not registered with the state government," another source told us.
A video of the interaction made available to the media, Orji was seen making claims to have been trained as a homeopathic doctor; a claim himself could not substantiate.
The Coordinator of the Taskforce, Dr Dan Abubakar told newsmen that the alleged quack, Orji, had no license to practice medicine and surgery in Nigeria and did not attend any medical institution, but carried out surgical operated on his patients in his consulting room and had no qualified nursing stall.
The Taskforce further revealed that the two young girls at the facility impersonating as nurses, confessed during interrogation that they were only working there as volunteers after both dropping out of secondary school, alluding to not having any nursing training.
"We were satisfied that he had no registrable credentials with Medical & Dental Council of Nigeria. We sealed Excellent Hospital, Ngarabe, Ekureku, before we took him to the police station, Itigidi," Dr Dan Abubakar added.
Orji who appeared before the Magistrate court, Itigidi was tried and granted bail, subject to further hearing. But unable to meet the bail conditions, he was remanded in custody at the Obubra Correctional Centre, with the matter adjourned to August 9, 2024, for further hearing.
Further investigations also revealed that Orji had in the past operated a medical facility in Ugep as St. Collins Hospital, in Ibogo, Biase LGA as Common Wealth Clinic, and now Excellent Hospital Ngarabe Ekureku in Abi LGA.
