Lagos State Government on Monday arraigned two medical doctors, Michael Atiba and Michael Ugbeye, before an Ikeja High Court over alleged involuntary manslaughter of a patient, Ejiro Ugorobi.
Atiba, a doctor at the Gbagada General Hospital, and Ugbeye, a consultant with a national orthopaedic hospital, are facing a count charge of involuntary manslaughter preferred against them by the Lagos State Government.
The defendants, whose residential addresses were not given, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The State Counsel, Mr Olalekan Azeez, asked for a trial date following their not guilty plea.
Azeez told the court that the defendants unlawfully caused the death of Ugorobi by neglecting the application of anaesthetics before and after surgery.
He submitted that the defendants allegedly committed the offence on Oct. 21, 2023, at about 12:30 p.m. at No. 20, Michael Adekoya St., Ilupeju, Lagos.
The counsel for 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 defence counsel, Mr A. O. Fayemi, moved the bail application dated March 21 and urged the court to grant his client bail on self-recognition.
Fayemi, in his 31 paragraph affidavits, said the second defendant had served the nation as a consultant orthopaedic for over 30 years.
Justice Oyindamola Ogala, in her ruling, granted the defendants five million naira each with two sureties each in like sum.
Ogala said the sureties must be residents within the court’s jurisdiction.
She added that the sureties must present credible home and office addresses as well as credible financial status.
Ogala ordered the sureties to present their BVN and NIN, evidence of tax payment, to the Lagos State Government and explained their relationship with the defendants.
The judge adjourned the case until May 15 for the commencement of trial.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offence contravenes Section 224 of the criminal law of Lagos State, 2015.
(NAN)
