Enugu Neuropsychiatric Hospital Boss Risks Jail Over Contempt

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Acting Medical Director of the crisis- ridden Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Dr. Ngozi Unogu, may soon incur the wrath of the Court, as she faces contempt proceedings initiated by Dr. Afam Ndu, who earlier won a defamation suit against the hospital officials.

Addressing newsmen at the weekend in Enugu, Counsel to Ndu, Chijioke Ezeh, disclosed that Justice E.M. Egumbge of the High Court of Enugu State had, in 2020, ruled in favor of the plaintiff in suit No. E712017.

According to the lawyer, the court awarded Dr. Ndu ₦2.5 million in damages and issued a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, including Dr. Unogu and Dr. Ubochi, from questioning his qualifications.

“The High Court granted all our prayers and confirmed that Dr. Ndu had the requisite credentials to serve as the principal of the School of Basic Mental Health Nursing at the institution.

“However, the defendants defied the court’s injunction by forming a committee to investigate the same qualifications,” Ezeh stated.

He argued that Dr. Unogu presided over the committee investigating Dr. Ndu’s credentials despite being a party to the original suit.

“She made herself both a judge and a participant in the matter, which we believe is a contemptuous act aimed at discrediting my client.

“This is pure witch-hunt. My client has been targeted for no reason since 2017. On this matter, we have returned to the court seeking redress.”.

On the other side, Boniface Ugwu, representing the defendants, maintained that discussing the matter is subjudice.“The case is still pending in court.

“An appeal was filed immediately after the 2020 judgment, and there is also a motion for a stay of execution. We have exchanged briefs, and the appeal is still under consideration,” Ugwu explained.

On his part, Onyebuchi Igboke, a member of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations of Nigeria, urged the government to intervene in the matter.

He criticized the hospital management and the Ministry of Health for allegedly enabling misconduct.

“It is high time the courts enforced their rulings. Public office holders must obey legal orders. Dr. Unogu has overstayed her tenure as acting CMD, and we are calling on the permanent secretary or the minister of state for health to invoke Section 7 of the Civil Service Guidelines.

“If criminal proceedings are ongoing against an officer, the law mandates suspension until the matter is resolved,” Igboke stated.

He further alleged that despite the conclusion of interviews and exams for a new CMD, the ministry has delayed confirming the successful candidate.

“The civil society is concerned that the minister’s failure to act suggests complicity. We are also aware that the hospital is yet to conduct any form of staff auditing. This is against the rules.”