The Lagos State government on Monday arraigned two doctors, Michael Atiba and Michael Ugbeye, before an Ikeja High Court over alleged involuntary manslaughter of a patient, Ejiro Ugorobi.
Atiba works with the Gbagada General Hospital and Ugbeye is a consultant with the National Orthopedic Hospital.
The defendants pleaded not guilty.
The State Counsel, Olalekan Azeez, asked for a trial date following their not guilty plea.
Azeez told the court that the defendants unlawfully caused Ugorobi’s death by neglect application of anaesthetic before and after surgery. He submitted that the defendants allegedly committed the offence on October 21, 2023, about 12:30pm at No 20, Michael Adekoya Street, Ilupeju, Lagos.
The counsel to the first defendant told the court that he filed a bail application dated March 22, and urged the court to grant Atiba bail on liberal terms.
“We are pleading that the first defendant be admitted to bail because he is a medical doctor and he is into the business of saving lives and not taking lives. He is not at any risk that he would not present himself for trial, I move in terms of the motion,” he said.
The second defense counsel, A. O. Fayemi, moved the application for bail dated March 21 and urged the court to grant his client bail on self-recognition.
Fayemi, in his 31 paragraph affidavit, said the second defendant had served the nation as a consultant orthopedic for over 30 years.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
