The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of Mr. Martins Ugwu, who impersonated a medical doctor and used a friend’s certificate to land a job at the Federal Ministry of Health.
Ugwu, a man now facing justice, fraudulently gained employment at the Ministry in 2006 by submitting fake credentials under the name of his best friend.
According to the ICPC, Ugwu’s deception allowed him to work for over a decade, earning salaries and allowances amounting to N17.2 million.
This case first came to light in February 2016 when the ICPC filed a seven-count charge against Ugwu for making a false statement to the chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC).
In its court filings, the ICPC revealed that Ugwu’s actions were in violation of Section 25(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act of 2000, which prohibits making false statements to gain employment.
The conviction followed years of legal proceedings, culminating in a judgment by Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Jabi, Abuja.
Ugwu had used the name of his friend, Dr. George Daniel Davidson, to procure a staff identity card, apply for leave, and even register for a postgraduate program in Epidemiology Practice.
The fraudulent doctor worked for the Federal Ministry of Health for 10 years, during which he benefitted from taxpayer-funded salaries. He drew substantial allowances and even applied for a master’s degree in epidemiology with the stolen credentials.
ICPC Counsel, Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, argued for the restitution of the entire sum of money Ugwu had earned during his time in the Federal Ministry of Health.
Justice Kutigi’s ruling sent a strong message about the growing issue of quackery in the Nigerian medical profession. The judge emphasized that Ugwu’s case represents a “new dimension” in the problem of fake medical professionals operating without proper certification.
“It is essential that this conviction serves as a warning to anyone thinking of impersonating a doctor or practicing without necessary qualifications,” Justice Kutigi remarked.
The court sentenced Ugwu to six months in prison for each of the seven counts of impersonation, with the sentences to run consecutively.
Furthermore, the judge mandated Ugwu to return the total sum of N17.2 million he had fraudulently earned during his time in the ministry.
If Ugwu fails to repay the amount, he will face an additional one-year prison sentence as a further deterrent to anyone considering similar actions.
The ICPC’s successful prosecution of the case comes as part of the ongoing effort to rid Nigeria’s health sector of fraudulent practices and ensure that only qualified professionals serve the public.
In recent years, the issue of fake medical practitioners has raised alarms across the country, as the consequences of hiring unqualified personnel in such critical fields can be disastrous.
Many Nigerians have been left wondering how these fraudulent professionals can slip through the cracks and gain access to high-level positions in vital sectors.
