Alleged Manslaughter: Absence Of Prosecution Witness Delays Doctors’ Trial 

By Felix Kuyinu

The absence of a witness has stalled the trial of two medical doctors who have been accused of manslaughter.

The duo – Michael Atiba and Michael Ugbeye, were to face prosecution at the Ikeja High Court on 29, July but the judge, Justice Oyindamola Ogala, called for a re-arraignment of the suspects due to the absence of the prosecution witness who was indisposed.

Justice Ogala, thereafter, adjourned the case till October 7, 2024.

The medical practitioners are facing trial over an alleged manslaughter of a patient identified as Ejiro Ugorobi.

During an initial arraignement on March 25, the prosecution said that Atiba, a doctor at the Gbagada General Hospital, and Ugbeye, Consultant with the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, commited the crime on Oct. 21, 2023 at No. 20, Michael Adekoya Street, Ilupeju, Lagos State.

The suspects were said to have caused the death of the patient by applying a wrong medication before and after his surgery.

The prosecution alleged that the offence contravenes Section 224 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Having listened to an application for bail by the defence counsel for both litigants, Justice Ogala granted the defendants bail in the sum of five million naira each with two sureties each in like sum.

The judge also demanded that the sureties must present a clean bill of financial status alongside a credible home and office addresses which must be within the jurisdiction of the court.

In addition, Justice Ogala ordered presentation of NIN and BVN identification by the sureties. They were also ordered to provide proof of tax payment to the Lagos State Government