Suspended NHS carer is Nigerian chief vying to be president of nation
ACARER suspended after allegedly falling asleep during a hospital night-shift is a Nigerian chief hoping to become president of the West African nation.
Chief Michael Idowu is also a barrister with 28 years’ experience.
His lofty status came to light after the 51-year-old unsuccessfully attempted to take legal action against the NHS Professional Office and the University Hospitals Coventry and North Warwickshire NHS Trust.
A Birmingham Employment Tribunal judge ruled that Mr Idowu could not proceed with his claim for race discrimination because he had failed to provide sufficient detail.
Father-of-five Mr Idowu, referred to in court as a former state legal adviser for Nigeria, was accused of snoozing at George Elliot Hospital, Coventry.
He denied the allegation and claimed he should have been paid his wages – a total of around £16,000 – during the suspension.
After the hearing, Mr Idowu, who now lives in Walsall, declared he will stand in next year’s Nigerian presidential elections.
He described his job as a carer as a “convenient appointment”.
On Twitter, Mr Idowu, who has lived in England for 15 years, describes himself as: “Twenty-eight years Nigerian barrister and solicitor, international human rights law consultant, senatorial and eventual presidential aspirant”.
His business card describes him as an expert on UK and Nigerian immigration and employment law and a “review specialist” in criminal law.
Of his presidential chances, Mr Idowu said: “I have had political experience with the Social Democratic Party and as state legal adviser, and I feel confident.”
Mr Idowu is said to have opened his own law office under the title of Chief Michael O Idowu and Co. (Nigerian barristers, solicitors and international legal consultants).
He is also linked with Birmingham City University International Students Group and with the Seriki (leader) of Igbehin Christians.
Thousands of Christians in parts of Nigeria have complained for some time about attacks by Muslim terrorists on their villages and accused the present president, Muhammadu Buhari of not doing enough to help them.