JAGISTS

A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has granted bail of N2 million to two doctors, Dr. Jude Okpani and Dr. Isaiah-Tunde Akinlade, who are facing trial for alleged manslaughter. The doctors were arraigned by the Rivers State Government on charges related to the death of Rebekah Tamunotorukubu-Sekidika, which allegedly occurred on February 2, 2024, at a clinic in Port Harcourt.

The prosecution claims that the doctors caused her death by failing to administer the necessary dose of local spinal anesthesia, which resulted in a ruptured uterus during a medical procedure. The case highlights serious allegations of negligence and manslaughter against the medical professionals involved

When the charges were read to them in court, the doctors pleaded not guilty.

Their counsel, C.T. Walter, orally applied for bail which was not opposed by the prosecution counsel, Christiana Tombari Bodo, a Senior State Council in the Ministry of Justice, but requested stringent conditions from the court on the grounds that the matter is sensitive.

The trial judge, Justice Jumbo Stephens, after listening to the defence and prosecution counsels, granted bail to the two accused in the sum N1m each and two sureties who must be the Chairman and Secretary of Nigeria Medical Association, Rivers State Chapter.

Justice Stephens also directed that the sureties must provide two passport photographs and their addresses must be verified by an official of the court and photocopies of either a valid driving licence, passport or voter card must be deposited in court.

For the accused persons, Justice Stephens said, “The 1st and 2nd defendants who have just been admitted to bail are also to deposit to the registrar of this court two copies of their passport photographs. These are the bail conditions.”

Justice Stephens thereafter adjourned the matter to January 20 and 27, 2025, for ‘definite’ hearing.

Our correspondent recalls that Miss Rebekah Tamunotorukubu-Sekidika, (24-year-old at the time), a first class graduate of Microbiology from the Benson Idahosa University, Benin in Edo State was preparing for a trip to the United Kingdom for a Masters degree when the incident occurred.