Two doctors arraigned for stealing dead colleague’s treatment fund

On Thursday, the Enugu Police Command two consultant psychiatrists of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, before an Enugu State Magistrates’ Court for forgery and stealing.

The accused, McDonald Inechi and Kinsley Ugwuonye, were arraigned before Chief Magistrate S. O. Okolo, on four counts for alledgedly stealing N700,000 belonging to Ozor Stephen, the next of kin of late Ozor Obinna, by forging Stephen’s signature.

The doctors were also accused of stealing N1,030,711 belonging to their colleague, late Obinna. They pleaded not guilty to each of the four counts.

Following the application for bail from their counsel, Boniface Ugwu, the court granted them bail in the sum of N300,000 each with one surety in like sum.

The charges read in part, “That you, Dr Inechi McDonald Chikaodo and Dr Ugwuonye O. Kingsley, sometime in the year 2014, at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, New Haven, Enugu, in Enugu North Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: stealing/forgery, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 495 (a) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Voll.II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004.”

It was gathered that the money in question was contributed by doctors for the treatment the late Obinna, who was down with kidney disease.

Obinna was scheduled to be flown abroad for treatment, but died in Lagos shortly before departure.