The police in Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos, have taken into custody a 37-year-old false medical doctor and practitioner, with suspected fake certificates.
The Police Assistant Inspector-General in charge of the zone, Olatoye Durosinmi, verified the arrest on Tuesday while showing the suspect to journalists in Lagos.
Durosinmi stated that the Zonal Anti-Piracy Unit's officers arrested the individual who professed to be the Managing Director of Skylink Medical Centre in Ikorodu.
“Based on the information received by the command from members of the Elepe community regarding the activities of the suspect, a team of detectives, led by SP Mariam Ogunmolasuyi, took action,” he said.
“The officers apprehended the suspect, conducted a search and found two suspected forged certificates from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, and Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
“Also discovered were fixed hospital equipment,” he said, adding that the hospital complex had been closed, pending the result of an investigation.
Durosinmi mentioned that the suspect admitted to electronically creating the certificates, as he did not receive any degree from the university or any certificate from MDCN.
According to him, the suspect only has a West African School Certificate qualification.
The police chief stated that part of the suspect’s admission was that he had a total of six members, two of whom were trained nurses, while four were amateurs.
“According to him, he was employed as a Nursing Assistant at Fabo Medical Centre in the Majidun area of Lagos before starting his own hospital,” he said.
The AIG also said that the suspect alleged that he had successfully performed three operations: two Cesarean sections and one appendicitis – during his three years of unlawful medical practice.
He mentioned that the investigation so far revealed that the suspect had been running the hospital without being a qualified medical practitioner.
Durosinmi encouraged the public to report any suspected unlawful practice to the police without hesitation.
He mentioned that the command was collaborating with the health departments in Lagos and Ogun States to eliminate such criminal elements from the zone.
The suspected false medical doctor additionally informed journalists on the sidelines of the parade that he used to conduct general treatments and surgeries.
He stated that he apprenticed for two-and-a-half years before opening his hospital.
“I am simply a secondary school certificate holder but I falsified the MBBS certificate,” the suspect stated.
(NAN)
