The Medical & Dental Practitioners Tribunal struck Dr. Yakubu Hassan Kwaji off the roll of medical practitioners in Nigeria based on a petition sent to it in 2017 by Audu Bulama Bukarti
Kwaji is of the most reckless breed of medical doctors heard of. He should be a lesson for other practitioners.
In 2016, one Isah Hamman (now late) went to Kwaji’s private clinic in Jimeta, Adamawa State, with stomach pain. Without careful examination nor due process, Kwaji collected N50,000 from the deceased person and rushed him to surgery. He removed the patient’s both kidneys and gave them to his relatives to bury, saying “it’s the tumour causing the tommy ache”.
Soon, Hamman stopped urinating and started Hemodialysis.
Investigations in other hospitals revealed that he had NO KIDNEYS at all. It was then that what Kwaji did was revealed.
Efforts to replace his kidneys failed as he didn’t match with any of his potential donors. Isah gave up after months of excruciating pains. Kwaji didn’t show any remorse nor did he foot the bill. Surely it would have been a disaster if allowed to continue practicing.
Today, the Medical and Dental Practitioners Tribunal sitting in Abuja found Kwaji guilty of all the 12-count charges against him and ordered that he be struck off the roll of practitioners.
Years after the incident, some facts one is yet to come to terms with the Kwaji conduct.
What kind of doctor was he? Where did he study? Did he pass his exams at all? We may never find the answers to these and many more questions, but one thing: Kwaji is not fit to be a doctor. We should be happy that he has been stopped from wasting any more lives.
Many thanks to A. A. Umar & Co law firm, Sanusi Musa and Dr. Musa A. Aliyu (just nominated as the Attorney General of Jigawa State) for continuing with this case despite the prolongment
For those wondering, the Tribunal didn’t award compensation or a criminal penalty because it lacks jurisdiction to do so. It’s a disciplinary body. But this verdict will be used to file a civil suit against the doctor and the clinic.
For those who say the matter should be handed over to the police for prosecution.
“I’ve dealt with the police for ages and don’t have a shred of confidence that they will interested in pursuing this matter. So, we’d rather channel our energy and resources to the civil case.”- Audu Bulama Bukarti
