Rivers doctors secure N2m bail over manslaughter allegation

Two doctors on trial for alleged manslaughter were granted N2 million bail by a Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

The doctors were charged with two counts of manslaughter and negligence by the Rivers State Government through the Ministry of Justice. The first defendant, Dr. Jude Okpani, was a gynecologist, and the second defendant was an anesthetist, Dr. Isiah-Tunde Akinlade.

Section 325 of the 1999 Rivers State Criminal Code is allegedly violated by the two doctors, who are accused of causing the death of Rebekah Tamunotorukubu-Sekidika in a Port Harcourt clinic on February 2, 2024.

Additionally, it is alleged that the accused failed to give Rebekah Tamunotorukubu-Sekidika the necessary dosage of local spinal anesthesia, causing her uterus to rupture carelessly during a surgical treatment, ultimately resulting in her death.

The doctors entered a not guilty plea when the allegations were read to them in court.

The prosecution’s attorney, Christiana Tombari Bodo, a Senior State Counsel in the Ministry of Justice, did not object to their attorney’s oral bail request, C.T. Walter, but she asked the court to impose strict conditions because of the delicate nature of the case.

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After hearing arguments from the defense and prosecution, trial judge Justice Jumbo Stephens granted the two accused N1 million bail each, with two sureties who had to be the chairman and secretary of the Nigeria Medical Association’s Rivers State chapter.

Additionally, Justice Stephens ordered that the sureties submit two passport photos and have their addresses confirmed by a court officer. Additionally, photocopies of a current driver’s license, international passport, or voter card must be turned in to the court.

“The first and second defendants, who have just been admitted to bail, are also to deposit two copies of their passport photographs with the registrar of this court,” Justice Stephens stated on behalf of the accused. These are the terms of bail.

After upon, Justice Stephens postponed the case until January 20 and 27, 2025, for a “definite” hearing.

According to our correspondent, the incident happened while Miss Rebekah Tamunotorukubu-Sekidika, a 24-year-old first-class microbiology graduate from Benson Idahosa University in Benin, Edo State, was getting ready to travel to the UK for a master’s degree.