Daily Independent Online.
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Wednesday, July 21, 2004.
SSS denies doctor’s abduction from hospital
By Okey Maduforo
Correspondent, Awka
Men of the State Security Services (SSS) in Anambra
State have denied an allegation by the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching
Hospital Nnewi chapter of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD)
that they abducted and manhandled its president, Dr. Jude Mgbemena.
Vice president of NARD, Dr. Harry Obiudu, who led a
delegation of 50 doctors on a protest to Governor Chris Ngige on Tuesday in
Awka, alleged that the SSS men abducted their president at gunpoint from the
hospital premises and took him to their office in Nnewi where he was
manhandled.
SSS Assistant Director of Operations, Mr. Sam Okara,
told journalists in Awka that Mgbemena was neither arrested nor abducted but
was invited for questioning.
Okara added that the invitation was based on an
allegation that he and his members had planned to hold a violent protest last
Monday against the university authorities over their condition of service.
“There was a report that the association of
resident doctors of the university were to carry out a violent demonstration in
the institution and we had to invite him and at least to urge him not to embark
on the protest as there are many ways to resolve labour matters.
“Also, there has been information reaching our
office that the president and his members were threatening the lives of some
officers of the institution and that of their families,” he said.
Okara confirmed that on the said day he had a meeting
with Mgbemena who did not tell him that he was manhandled by his officrs,
adding that after the meeting, the NARD president was asked to put down the
grievances in a letter to the management of the hospital.
He said he was surprise that the doctors went to tell
the governor that Mgbemena was arrested at gunpoint and manhandled by his men.
Okara added that he was shocked when Mgbemena came with more
than 40 doctors to his office in Awka in a protest, insisting that the SSS has
authority to intervene in the labour crisis.
