An Enugu State High Court, presided over by Justice Ngozi Orji, has sentenced the Acting Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Dr. Ngozi Unaogu, and the hospital’s Head of Clinical Services, Dr. Ubochi, to prison for contempt of court.
The court’s decision followed a contempt proceeding initiated by Dr. Afam Ndu, the principal of the School of Basic Mental Health Nursing at the hospital, who accused the officials of defying a previous court ruling.
In 2020, Justice Ebele Mabel Egumgbe of the Enugu State High Court ruled in favor of Dr. Ndu in Suit No. E/71/2017, restraining the hospital management from questioning his qualifications.
The court awarded him ₦2.5 million in damages and issued a perpetual injunction against any further scrutiny of his credentials.
Despite this ruling, Dr. Unaogu and Dr. Ubochi allegedly violated the court’s order by setting up a senior staff committee to re-examine Dr. Ndu’s NYSC discharge certificate, an action they claimed was directed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
On Monday, Justice Orji found both officials guilty of contempt and ruled that they be remanded in a correctional facility until they fully comply with the 2021 judgment by Justice Egumgbe, which had barred the hospital’s management from further questioning Dr. Ndu’s credentials.
The judge emphasized that the decision of the hospital’s leadership to reinvestigate the matter despite a standing court order, amounted to blatant disobedience of the judiciary.
Until the hospital authorities demonstrate absolute compliance with the previous judgment, Dr. Unaogu and Dr. Ubochi will remain in custody.
