The Senate has summoned the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike; the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and the Minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate compelling their appearance before the committees on Health and Police Affairs.
The summons pertains to the tragic passing of Greatness Olorunfemi, a victim of the notorious ‘one-chance’ operators in Abuja.
Furthermore, Wike, Egbetokun and Pate were tasked to conduct comprehensive awareness campaigns regarding the Gunshot Act of 2017, a legislation enacted during the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The summons followed a motion presented by Asuquo Ekpenyong (PDP, Cross River South) during the Thursday plenary session.
Olorunfemi who until her demise was a community developer and member of the Young African Leaders Initiative Network was reportedly forcibly ejected from a moving vehicle along the Maitama-Kubwa highway last Tuesday after being stabbed by criminals who had robbed her.
Bystanders who witnessed the incident promptly rushed her to Maitama General Hospital, but she was allegedly denied treatment for failing to produce a police report.
This action by the hospital’s management contradicts the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017, which mandates the treatment of gunshot victims and imposes a penalty of N50,000 on anyone who refuses to comply with the Act.
Senator Ekpenyong, in presenting his motion, condemned the actions of the medical personnel at Maitama General Hospital and called for a thorough investigation into Olorunfemi’s death.
He emphasised that the consistent denial of treatment to gunshot victims is in direct violation of the provisions set forth in the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshots Act, 2017.
He also quoted section 3 of the Act which states “No gunshot victim shall be refused immediate and adequate treatment whether or not an initial monetary deposit has been paid ” .
During the debate on the motion, the majority of senators voiced their support for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Olorunfemi’s demise.
Mohammed Mongunu (Borno North), who supported the motion, insisted that the management of Maitama General Hospital should face prosecution and be charged with manslaughter.
“The hospital should be charged for manslaughter. The hospital killed her. The law is in place; we should, as a matter of urgency, ensure that Maitama General Hospital is prosecuted and made to pay for all the damages,” he asserted.
Senator Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South) proposed that the Attorney General of the Federation should be called upon to prosecute the case.
Subsequently, Senate President Godswill Akpabio granted approval for a comprehensive investigation into the death of Olorunfemi.
Akpabio said, “The death of Greatness Olorunfemi was avoidable if provisions of the extant law have been adhered to.
“Police and health care providers in the country need to save Nigerians from such avoidable deaths”.
