The State Executive Council (SEC) of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Kogi State branch, has reaffirmed the suspension of it’s former embattled Chairman Dr Olusola Baoku.
This forms part of the resolutions in a meeting held weekend in Lokoja by the State Executive Council of the Nigeria Medical Association, Kogi State branch.
The resolutions of the meeting reads in part “The meeting resolved to stand by the decision of the congress of NMA Kogi State branch which held on the 13th July 2024 where the former Chairman was suspended to face the State Disciplinary Committee.
“The State Executive Council (SEC) has successfully convened and taken far reaching decisions on the autonomy of the branch. The SEC was not convened in a long time in the tenure of the suspended Chairman, who created crisis for the SEC because of fear of impeachment for infringements.
“The meeting also applauded the plans on ground for a very successful medical outreach to Okene and the hosting of the AGM and the election.
“The meeting also called on the National Officers Committee (NOC) not to overreach in their activities so that they can be respected. The meeting called on the NOC to withdraw its interference and allow NMA Kogi SEC work with the Committee of Past Chairmen to ensure that the medical outreach and the election are successfully conducted before the 11th August 2024 as required by law.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Medical Association, Kogi State branch has passed a vote of no confidence in the Dr Ushakuma Anenger and Celestine Ugwoke, Fact-Finding Committee which failed to resolve the lingering crisis in the State caused by Dr Baoku Olusola, the suspended Chairman.
In a protest letter addressed to the President of NMA dated 3rd August 2024, the NMA Kogi State branch rejected the resolution of Dr Ushakuma Anenger and Celestine Ugwoke, Fact-Finding Committee assignment accusing them of failure to present facts in their report.
The letter was signed by the Committee of Past Chairmen Dr Aimila David (1994 – 2002), Dr. Zubair Kabiru (2018 – 2020), Dr. Gabriel Musa(2002 – 2004), Dr. Joseph Arome Iduh (2006 – 2008), Dr. Ahmed Attah Jacob (2010 2012), Dr. Austin Ojotule (2014 – 2016), Dr. Tijani Godwin Atayi (2017 2018) Dr. Omakoji Oyiguh (2020 – May 2022) and Dr. Abubakar Alhassan (May 2022 – Aug. 2022).
The letter which was titled re: resolution on the crisis in NMA Kogi State, reads in part;
“We acknowledge receipt of your letter Ref No. NMA/SG/08/0084 dated 1st August 2024 with the above subject. We wish to express our perspective and stance regarding the National Officers Committee, (NOC) proposed resolution as outlined in your correspondence and previous directives concerning the situation in our branch.
“We sincerely believe that these resolutions do not seek to achieve the intended peace, but a perversion of justice and an affront on the rights of the Association where members are subject to the Constitution and Governing Rules. It is also a gross infringement on the branch Autonomy as provided in Article 6 of the NMA constitution.
“Although the Interim Caretaker Committee (CTC) has withdrawn all petitions without requisite approvals, submitted by the suspended Chairman, the NOC has failed to address members’ grievances and overlooked various abuses and violations committed by Dr. Baoku, some of which warrant NMA disciplinary proceedings.
“These issues include violations of members’ personal liberties and alleged criminal acts currently under investigation by security agencies. A mere directive to withdraw such cases will not resolve these matters. Mr. President, the NMA Kogi members, initially granted Dr. Baoku the mandate to represent and manage the association’s affairs.
“They have now, within their rights, requested his suspension due to poor representation. (Annexure II) We believe your resolution in this regard fails to address the concerns of members but rather reignites grievances leading to disruption.
“The suspension of Dr. Baoku Olusola and the remaining State Officers Committee (SOC) members remains effective as mandated by a duly convened Congress. The assertion by the National Officers Committee (NOC) that the majority of EGM requisition signatories are not financial members is unfounded, unsubstantiated, and appears to shield Dr. Baoku Olusola from his blatant disregard for Section 3(B2) of our bylaw, which mandates convening the requested EGM within 72 hours.
“The Congress empowered the Committee of Past Chairmen to act as an IMC due to the SOC’s inability to function. The Transition Committee constituted by the NOC is “unsolicited” and not contemplated in the Bye-law, and is therefore not acceptable.
“The Transition Committee cannot function without interfacing with our Congress and deriving
legitimacy from it. The branch expresses concern regarding Dr Ushakuma Anenger and
Celestine Ugwoke, who appeared partisan in their Fact-Finding Committee assignment and
does not have faith in their ability to act or speak in fairness to the issues on ground.
“Let it be noted that Dr Ushakuma Anenger had earlier visited same NMA Kogi State as an envoy of the
President. Same Dr Ushakuma Anenger is being sent to chair a Transition Committee from the
NOC to implement their possible jaundiced recommendations, as if there are no other people
in the Nigerian Medical Association that have capacity to be fair, just, equitable and transparent.
“Dr Celestine Ugwoke also on the Transition Committee had joined same Dr Ushakuma Anenger on the Fact-Finding Committee whose report and recommendation/s have not been presented and discussed by the National Executive Council.
“NMA Kogi State branch still retains its autonomy and the Bye-law does not provide for electronic voting system. We refer you to Section 7(9)(ii) of our Bye-law. To do otherwise as contained in the Bye-law would amount to the same constitutional breach that has brought us to this point.
“The Congress still retains the right to determine who audits its accounts, and not the NOC. The Transition Committee’s intention to intervene would constitute unnecessary meddlesomeness. The NMA Kogi State shall welcome both financial and material contributions from the NOC aimed at ensuring the success of the planned medical outreach at Okene. The NOC should exercise restraint in its attempt to infringe completely on the autonomy of the NMA Kogi branch.
“The NMA Kogi State branch condemns any member’s criminal or unprofessional behavior, regardless of their position. As medical professionals, our conduct must always conform to ethical standards. Any disciplinary action against Dr. Baoku Olusola is a matter between him and his employer. We believe you’re aware that, attempting to use professional affiliation to shield Dr. Baoku from administrative and legal sanctions for offences under Public Service Rules and potential violation, is untenable. Respectfully, Mr. President, we are on ground and can manage this situation better than your resolutions.
“The NOC’s letter dated 13th July 2024, (Annexure III) retroactively suspending our activities for three days, was issued erroneously after a valid and legitimate Emergency General Meeting (EGM) (Annexure IV) had already taken place in compliance with Sections 3(A)(III)(B) and 3(B)2 of our Bye-law. We urge the NOC to consider the moral, judicial, and legal implications of a retroactive order. We believe this directive lacks justice and fairness, defying common sense and equity, and thus cannot achieve the desired peace.
“Dr. Zubair Kabiru, acting on behalf of the Caretaker Committee and State Disciplinary Committee, was carrying out the mandate of the congress to which the retroactive letter of 13th July 2024 you will agree, is of no material effect to stop. Referring him to the National Disciplinary Committee for investigation, is an ill-informed decision when the resolutions in your correspondence seeks to shield and validate Dr Baoku Olushola who has violated various constitutional provisions leading to his suspension by the congress.
“This is an indication that Dr. Zubair Kabiru or NMA Kogi branch will not receive a fair hearing from
either the current National Disciplinary Committee or the NOC.
“The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Kogi State branch requests that the National Officers Committee (NOC) recognize our capacity to self-govern in accordance with the provision of the NMA constitution and our Bye-law as rightly provided for by Article 6 of the NMA constitution.
“We view the NOC’s interventions thus far in NMA Kogi State branch affairs as meddlesome, unjust, biased, and incapable of achieving peace. Instead, they appear to be veiled attempts to impose Dr. Baoku Olusola on NMA Kogi State branch, with potentially severe consequences
for the association.
“We invite the NOC to cease its inappropriate interference in NMA Kogi State branch affairs as the Transition Committee constituted by the NOC lacks the constitutional powers to function. We request the NOC to withdraw all letters issued thus far and allow our branch to operate smoothly, intervening only when a genuine issue arises (and hopefully in a sincere manner).
“We ask the NOC to await NMA Kogi State branch’s decisions and dispositions before offering relief to any aggrieved members. Similarly, we request that the NOC await the outcome of our medical outreach and election. The Caretaker Committee will continue to keep the NOC informed of our activities as we
have always done, without any assurance of compliance with the NOC directives.
“The NMA Kogi State branch reaffirms its capacity to conduct its affairs autonomously, and respectfully requests the NOC to allow it to do so without undue intervention.
“The NMA Kogi State branch does not have confidence in the members of the Fact-Finding Committee, who have failed to produce a report from facts, but have only shown their bias inclination to align with criminality and illegality, while keeping mute over acts of constitutional violations of the suspended chairman of the branch by their resolutions.
“The President should recall our earlier letter of protest to you on the composition of the Fact
Finding Committee and your assurances. The NOC is requested to recognize and uphold the decision made by the Kogi Branch of the NMA during their congress held on the 13th of July 2024″.
