Medical Doctor Faces Jail Term Over Death Of Patient In Hospital

Adeleye Kunle Reports

A medical practitioner, Dr. Oyeyinka Oyetunde, has landed in trouble as he faces jail term over alleged negligence, which caused the death of a patient identified as Uchenna in a hospital in Lagos State.

TrackNews Nigeria reports that it followed his arraignment before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special offence Court in Ikeja, Lagos for manslaughter.

Dr Oyetunde was arraigned for alleged involuntary manslaughter of a patient. The offence he was said to have committed on 16th June, 2020, at No. 1 Ajibade Oke Street, Isolo, Lagos.

The State Prosecution stated that the doctor failed to administer care on a certain Uchenna and in the process, he died due to his negligence. He was initially arraigned before the Ebute Metta Magistrates Court for the alleged offence and the matter was referred to the DPP for advice, which changed the charge to manslaughter.

He pleaded not guilty to a one-count charge of involuntary manslaughter.

The defence counsel, Mr. Abayomi Omotunbora, in his application for bail urged the Court to allow his client continue on administrative bail granted him by an Ebute Metta Magistrate Court before Chief Magistrate G.O. Abayomi.

The Presiding Judge granted the request, noting that the defendant is not a flight risk going by his antecedents. The Court allowed him to continue on his bail, with a condition to provide the evidence for which he was granted bail not later than seven days from the date of his arraignment before the Court.

The matter was adjourned till 19th December, 2022, for mention.