Edo NMA suspends principal officers dereliction of their official duties
The Edo State Branch of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has suspended Dr Udoka Imoisili, Dr. Okwara Benson and Dr. Collins Otoikhila, Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Secretary respectively.
The decision to suspend the three officials was taken at the Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference (AGM/SC) held at the Doctors House in Benin City, on Thursday, 17 August, 2023.
A communique issued at the end of the meeting, accused the suspended officials of high-handedness and “for refusing to carry out their constitutional duties as demanded by the AGM.”
The communique was signed by the Deputy Secretary, Dr Iluobe Inegbenosun, who is now acting aa Chairman, and Dr Emeka Okoh, the PRO.
The communique reads further:
“A secret ballot was held, and 120 members voted to suspend the Chairman, Dr Udoka Imoisili, Deputy Chairman, Dr Benson Okwara, and Secretary, Dr Collins Otoikhila; 3 voted against and 3 abstained.
“The meeting continued with the adjusted and adopted agenda, and the following resolutions were reached:
“The Deputy Secetary, Dr Iluobe Inegbenosun should assume office as Ag Chairman, NMA Edo State with immediate effect as prescribed by the Edo NMA R&R and the suspended officers should hand over the association properties in their possession to the Ag Chairman within 48 hours of this meeting.
“Members took cognizance of the fact that all the committees of the association were constituted at a fraudulent and illegal State Executive Council (SEC) meeting where a quorum was not formed and the attendance list was doctored. Therefore, the AGM resolved to dissolve all the committees.
“The financial report was prepared by the Suspended Chairman with little or no input from the financial secretary. There were several inconsistencies in the financial report with a total expenditure of fifty-four million, eight hundred and forty seven thousand and sixty-seven naira, forty-eight kobo (N54,847,067.48) spent under one year without any tangible project and no auditing.The AGM therefore resolved to step down the financial report.
“The AGM expressed its displeasure with the failure of the suspended Chairman, Dr Udoka Imoisili, for failing to solidarize with ARD members in Edo State during the NARD industrial action. The Ag Chairman assured the AGM that going forward, Edo NMA will support all her members including the ARD. ”
Some members of the Edo NMA who asked not to be named, expressed displeasure at the high handedness, autocratic and undemocratic attitude of the suspended Chairman, Dr Udoka Imoisili and her disregard for the AGM.
“The Chairman disregarded the breach in the Edo NMA Rules and Regulation (R&R).
“We hereby call on the state government, the Nigerian police, DSS, all the bankers of the Edo NMA, and the general public not to deal with the suspended officers anymore pending when they are cleared by the State Disciplinary Committee.” the source said.
But, reacting to their suspension, the embattled NMA Chairman and Secretary, accused some members and officials of the Association, of acting a preconceived script with a view to causing chaos and pandemonium in the Association.
Their statement titled “Impersonation of the Office of Chairman and Secretary of Edo NMA” and signed by , Dr. Imoisili Udoka and Dr. Otoikhila Collins, said: “Most galling and disrespectful action by these persons is the impersonation of my office and that of my Secretary by the Deputy Secretary and the PRO, who have been going about falsely parading themselves as Acting Chairman and Acting Secretary with intent to deceive the doctors in Edo state.”