…Embattled Chairman threatens legal action against association

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Akwa Ibom State chapter, has impeached its Chairman, Dr Emem Abraham, and Vice Chairman, Dr Aniekan Utuk, over allegations of gross misconduct, high-handedness, and misappropriation of unaccounted association funds.

The impeachment of the duo occurred on Sunday, June 2, 2024, at the NMA Secretariat, Kilometer 8 Nwaniba Road, during an Ordinary General Congress. A motion for impeachment was nominated, seconded, and voted for by 71 members.

The administration of the embattled Chairman, Dr Abraham led Executive was sworn in on July 16, 2022, and was due to complete their tenure by July 17, 2024.

However, the Secretary of the Association, Dr. Usenobong Morgan, was voted in as Acting Chairman after a motion was moved and accepted by Congress. This decision was ratified by a vote of 61 in favour and 13 against.

Briefing newsmen on Tuesday at Doctor’s Mess, Dr Morgan disclosed that the embattled Chairman and Vice Chairman were impeached on the grounds of “running the NMA Akwa Ibom State for 5 months without a budget while expending millions of naira, and presenting to State Executive Council a financial statement for free medical outreach accounting for only six million naira out of thirty-four million naira.”

According to Dr. Morgan, other grounds for their impeachment included: Breaching the NMA National Constitution and Akwa Ibom State Bye-laws, unconstitutionally ejecting members from the association’s WhatsApp group, anomalies in committee reports, presenting a financial statement for NMA Creche without showing income, high-handedness, impersonating the Secretary in official communication, and illegally suspending the President, Association of Resident Doctors, Chairman, National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), and NMA Secretary.

Similarly, Dr. Morgan who called for the immediate withdrawal of privileges accrued to the embattled Chairman and Vice and recognitions, said the briefing was timely to inform the public of the changes in the association’s leadership.

“As the Secretary of the NMA, I was made to be the Acting Chairman of the Association by virtue of the hierarchy of the Chairman and Vice being impeached and that is why I’m here to notify that that change has occurred and our request is that, following the resolution of the congress, everyone should cease and withdraw all forms of recognition and privileges accrued to the suspended persons going forward because the congress has made an Acting Chairman which is my own self,” he stated.

Reacting, the embattled Chairman, Dr. Abraham in the Association’s WhatsApp group described her impeachment as ‘illegal’ and threatened to take legal action against the body.

“This is to remind members that no illegality shall be condoned in this group. Pls be warned that I will not hesitate to take action against any violator,” she wrote.

However, the Public Relations Officer of NMA, Dr. Unyime Ndoh in a counter statement urged members to disregard the information from the new Acting Chairman, Dr. Morgan.

“This is to inform all members of NMA AKS that the Ordinary General Meeting, which was held today, went into a recess and will reconvene soonest. Please disregard any contrary information,” he said.

Meanwhile, further investigation into the matter by New Telegraph reveals that the crisis in the NMA Akwa Ibom chapter began after the kidnapping of Dr John Robbin Esu in the Oron local government area on April 30, 2024, at his place of work.

Following a 15-day stay with his abductors, the embattled Chairman Dr Abraham in a bid to expedite action from the government and police for the release of Dr. Esu initiated a 3-day warning strike action.

At the expiration of the strike without the release of Dr. Esu, Dr. Abraham issued another notice for an indefinite strike by the association.

According to findings, the strike action was later flouted by some members sympathetic to the government which led to the suspension of somemembers, including Dr Aniekpeno Eyo, President of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), and Dr. Idara Usen, Chairman, National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) who directed their members not to participate in the strike.

The suspended ARD President and NAGGMDP Chairman later re-strategized and mobilized support for Dr. Abraham’s impeachment on Sunday.