The
Lagos State Police Command has arrested a ‘doctor’, identified only as Abiodun,
for allegedly raping and impregnating a 26-year-old ulcer patient in the Ipaja
Ayobo area of the state.
It was learnt that Abiodun, a trado-medical
doctor, who had his health centre – Damola Healthcare – on Agbaje Street, was
arrested on Tuesday by the Isokoko Police Division.
The
Family Support Unit of the division was said to be in charge of the matter.
It was gathered that the victim, Funmilayo (pseudonym), who hails from
Abeokuta, Ogun State, and lives two streets away from the centre, had in
December 2015, gone to the place to complain about ulcer.
It
was learnt that Abiodun’s workers had prescribed some herbal drugs for the
lady, telling her that she would pay N18,000 for comprehensive treatment. The
victim reportedly deposited N10,000.
It was also gathered that when there was no improvement in the lady’s
condition, she requested to meet with Abiodun for further counselling in
January 2016. Abiodun was said to have taken over Funmilayo’s treatment from
his workers.
It
was learnt that the ‘doctor’ on January 17, after conducting some tests on the
patient, allegedly told her that she had womb infections and she needed to be
further examined, asking her to come back two days later by 9am.
It was further learnt that when Abiodun arrived at about 8am, he invited the
patient to his office and allegedly asked her to undress to have her private
parts examined.
It
was gathered that Abiodun, however, allegedly raped Funmilayo, and thereafter
begged the patient not to disclose the incident to anyone.
A
police source said that Funmilayo, however, reported the matter at the Ayobo
Police Division, when she discovered in February 2016, that she was pregnant,
and the ‘doctor’ allegedly told her to have an abortion.
She
said, “The ‘doctor’ agreed he had an affair with her, but he insisted that the
victim should get rid of the pregnancy. The lady insisted that she would not
risk her life to go for an abortion since she was not promiscuous. When the
matter got to the Ayobo division, the ‘doctor’ was arrested and made to promise
to take care of the lady. But after he was granted bail, the promise was not
kept.”
It was later learnt that the matter was later brought to the Lagos State
Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, Alausa, which referred the victim
to Mirabel Centre, Ikeja, for a checkup.
It
was gathered that the DSVRT thereafter requested the matter to be transferred
to the Isokoko division and the doctor was re-arrested.
Speaking on the issue,
Funmilayo, a National Diploma holder from a polytechnic in Lagos State,
described what went on in the suspect’s office as shocking, adding that she
could no longer keep the rape a secret when she found out she was pregnant.
She
said, “On that day, when he arrived, we went into his office. He asked me to
lie on the bed as he would insert a rubber tool into my private parts for
examination. I did. My legs were far apart. He did that for some minutes, and
suddenly I noticed he inserted his private parts.
“I
shouted, but the cleaner did not come in. He stopped when he ejaculated.
Immediately, he began to apologise that he did not know what came over him. I
vowed not to return to the centre. I did not tell anybody because I thought I
should just forget about it.
“It
was in February that I found out I could not menstruate. I went for a scan, but
nothing showed. By March, I went for another scan, and it showed that I was
pregnant for six weeks and four days. When I informed him, he suggested
abortion, which I rejected. That was how the trouble began.”
When a call was made to Abiodun’s phone number on Wednesday, it rang out several times.
The
DSVRT Coordinator, Lola Vivour-Adeniyi, warned female patients to insist on
having a female nurse around in the hospital room, whenever their private parts
were to be examined by a male doctor.
She
said, “This is a rape by a traditional doctor which has now resulted in
pregnancy. We requested that the case be transferred to the Family Support Unit
of the Isokoko division from Ayobo division. The Department of Public
Prosecutions has also requested the duplicate case file. The DSVRT has referred
the victim to the OPD to get legal representation. She is also being given
antenatal care at the Mirabel Centre.
“It
must be emphasised that women must ensure that a female nurse is in the
examination room whenever their private parts are to be examined by a male
doctor.If that was done in this case, such sexual assault would not have taken
place.”
The
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed
Abiodun’s arrest.
She
said, “The ‘doctor’ has been arrested. The case is still under investigation.”
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