Two consultant psychiatrists of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu have been arraigned by the Enugu Police Command before a Magistrate Court in the state for allegedly stealing monies contributed for the treatment of their deceased colleague.
The suspects identified as McDonald Inechi, and Kingsley Ugwuonye alegedly stole N700,000 belonging to Ozor Stephen, the next of kin of their former colleague, Ozor Obinna.
According to the police, the suspects allegedly forged Stephen’s signature and diverted the money for themselves.
The police also alleged that both men also diverted over N1 million contributed by doctors for the treatment of the late Obinna, who was down with kidney disease.
He died in Lagos before he could be flown abroad for treatment.
The charges read in part
“That you, Dr Inechi McDonald Chikaodo and Dr Ugwuonye O. Kingsley, sometime in the year 2014, at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, New Haven, Enugu, in Enugu North Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: stealing/forgery, thereby committing an offense punishable under Section 495 (a) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Voll.II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004.”
They pleaded not guilty to each of the four counts. Following the application for bail from their counsel, Boniface Ugwu, the court granted them bail in the sum of N300,000 each with one surety in like sum.