A State High Court sitting in Enugu has sentenced the Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Dr. Ngozi Unaogu, and the hospital’s Director of Clinical Services, Dr. Vincent Ubochi, to the Nigeria Correctional Centre for flouting a valid court order.
The court presided over by Justice Ngozi Oji, in its ruling, ordered the two officials to remain in custody pending when they purged themselves of the contempt and fully comply with the court’s judgment delivered on December 10, 2021, by Justice Ebele Mabel Egumgbe.
The case originated from a lawsuit filed by Dr. Afam Ndu, a nurse and former principal of the hospital’s School of Mental and Basic Psychiatric Nursing.
Ndu had taken legal action against the hospital management after being accused of rape, murder, and possessing fake certificates—allegations that were later proven false.
According to The Nation, it was learnt that the Federal Ministry of Health cleared him of wrongdoing, yet the hospital management continued to scrutinize his credentials.
In the 2021 ruling, the court issued a perpetual injunction restraining the hospital from further investigating Ndu’s qualifications.
The defendants—Dr. Unaogu, Dr. Ubochi, and two other doctors—were found guilty of defamation and ordered to pay N2.5 million in damages.
The court also mandated a retraction of the defamatory publication in a national newspaper within 30 days.
The judgment was upheld by the Court of Appeal on January 24, 2024.
However, despite the ruling, Unaogu and Ubochi proceeded to establish a senior staff committee to reexamine Ndu’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate, claiming it was based on a directive from the Federal Minister of Health and Social Welfare.
Justice Oji ruled that their actions constituted a blatant disregard for the court’s authority, leading to their sentencing.
The court ordered that both officials remain in prison custody until they comply fully with the 2021 judgment.
