The chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Enugu State branch , Dr. Ike Okwesili, has been suspended for alleged gross misconduct.
To that end, the association appointed a deputy vice chairman, Dr Onyekachi Ugwuonye to act as chairman, pending the determination of the matter by the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee of NMA.
A statement signed by Dr Ugwuonye, on Saturday in Enugu, said that the meeting attended by several members of the association was in line with Article VII (i) and (ii) of the By-laws of the NMA, Enugu State.
He added that the suspension of Okwesili was aimed at improving the efficiency of the association and place it on a better pedestal for greater service.
The statement added that the suspended chairman had unilaterally withdrew the rights and privileges of some members of the association without recourse to laid down procedures and thereby, threw the association into chaos.
The Ethics and Disciplinary Committee had been mandated to submit the outcome of its investigation into the activities of the suspended chairman during the forthcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association.
In his reaction, Okwesili said that the purported suspension was politically motivated and unconstitutional.
He described the action as the manifestation of “the rascality which is creeping into the medical profession.
“Non members of the State Executive Council (SEC) do not discuss about SEC. They want to have their way simply because our election is coming up in two weeks time,” he said.
According to him, the national leadership of the NMA had intervened in the matter and would resolve all the issues.
Okwesili said: “This is a case of corruption fighting back. They want to enthrone leaders that will protect their unethical and unprofessional fraudulent activities”.
