The Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Enugu is once again embroiled in a legal conflict as Dr. Ngozi Unogu, the acting Medical Director (MD), faces contempt proceedings initiated by Dr. AC Ndu, who previously won a defamation suit against the hospital officials.
Chijioke Ezeh, counsel for Dr. AC Ndu, revealed to the press that Justice E.M. Egumbge of the High Court of Enugu State ruled in favor of the plaintiff in 2020 in case No. E712017. Ezeh explained that the court awarded Dr. Ndu ₦2.5 million in damages and issued a perpetual injunction preventing the defendants, including Dr. Unogu and Dr. Ubochi, from questioning his qualifications.
“The High Court granted all our requests and affirmed that Dr. Ndu possessed the necessary credentials to serve as the principal of the School of Basic Mental Health Nursing at the institution. However, the defendants violated the court’s injunction by forming a committee to investigate those very qualifications,” Ezeh stated.
He further argued that Dr. Unogu presided over the committee investigating Dr. Ndu’s credentials, despite being a party to the original suit. “She positioned herself as both a judge and a participant in this matter, which we view as a contemptuous act aimed at undermining my client. This is a blatant witch-hunt. My client has been targeted without justification since 2017. We have returned to court seeking justice on this issue,” he added.
In contrast, Boniface Ugwu, representing the defendants, insisted that discussing the matter is sub judice. “The case is still pending in court. An appeal was filed immediately following the 2020 judgment, and a motion for a stay of execution is also in process. 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 government intervention. He criticized the hospital management and the Ministry of Health for allegedly enabling misconduct.
“It is imperative for the courts to enforce their rulings. Public office holders must comply with legal orders. Dr. Unogu has exceeded her tenure as acting CMD, and we call on the permanent secretary or the minister of state for health to invoke Section 7 of the Civil Service Guidelines. If criminal proceedings are active against an officer, the law requires suspension until the matter is resolved,” Igboke said.
He further alleged that despite completing interviews and exams for a new CMD, the ministry has delayed confirming the successful candidate. “The civil society is concerned that the minister’s inaction implies complicity. We are also aware that the hospital has yet to conduct any form of staff auditing, which is against regulations,” he added.
