Medical council probes ‘doctor’ wanted for robbery
The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has commenced investigation on Dr Ola Solomon Jimade to ascertain if he is a qualified medical doctor.
This followed a police manhunt on Jimade for alleged armed robbery, Daily Trust has learnt.
The council registers and regulates persons to practice medical or dental profession in the country.
Dr Jimade was declared wanted by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police command last week for allegedly being the leader of a syndicate involved in several armed robbery and car snatching incidents in the city.
A source from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria told Daily Trust yesterday that as at Friday, the management of the council directed the concerned department to check if Jimade was a qualified medical doctor registered with the council or not.
When contacted on phone yesterday, Dr Roland Aigbovo, Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Federal Capital (FCT) Territory chapter said the association has written to the council to investigate if the said doctor was genuine. He said they were still awaiting the response of the council.
Jimade, who ran Vital Care Hospital, No 11 Ohafia Street, opposite Methodist Church, Phase 3, F.H.A Kubwa, Abuja, until he was declared wanted, was alleged to also be a cultist.
A neighbour of the alleged gang leader, who would not want to be named said, “The young promising doctor has disappointed us. He graduated with a distinction in medicine and served in the State House Clinic. After that he established a fantastic clinic in Abuja but he never stopped his involvement in cultism and that led him to these nefarious activities.”
Another resident, who also preferred anonymity, expressed shock over the revelation, saying “He (Jimade) looked like a normal happy go-lucky guy, who is a member of the medical profession. He had patients he attended to and who would have thought he was an armed robber.”
One of the suspects, Meshak James, while fielding questions from Daily Trust, said he worked as a cleaner at Jimade’s hospital and was part of the group that snatched a Toyota Corolla.
He said: “I was not robbing before, but why I decided to follow him (the doctor) because he promised to rent a house for me and furnish it because I have no place to stay in this Abuja, I don’t have a family in this Abuja.
“I met him in his hospital. I worked there as a cleaner. I am facing some challenges which I always tell him. It is only me and him that went for that Toyota operation but I don’t know how many they were in the other ones they have been doing”.