Lagos Arraigns 2 Doctors For Involuntary Manslaughter

Lagos State government has arraigned two medical doctors: Michael Atiba and Michael Ugbeye, before the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja over the death of one of their patients, Ejiro Ugorobi.
The defendants, Atiba, a doctor at the Gbagada General Hospital and Ugbeye, a consultant with the National Orthopaedic Hospital, were docked before Justice Oyindamola Ogala on a one-count involuntary manslaughter charge.

The state counsel, Olalekan Azeez, told the court that the defendants unlawfully caused the death of Ugorobi by neglecting the application of anaesthetics before and after surgery.
Azeez claimed that the defendants committed the offence on October 21, 2023, at about 12:30 pm at 20 Michael Adekoya Street, Ilupeju, Lagos.
He also maintained that the offence violated Section 224 of the criminal law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendants, whose residential addresses were not given, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In a short ruling, Justice Ogala granted the defendants bail in the sum of N5 million each with two sureties each in like sum.

The judge also ordered that the sureties must be residents within the court’s jurisdiction and that they must present credible home and office addresses and credible financial status.

Justice Ogala further directed that the sureties must present their BVN and NIN, evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State government and explain their relationship with the defendants.

She adjourned the case to May 15, 2024, for the commencement of trial.