Kogi NMA chair, 3-executive removed

The suspended Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Kogi State, Dr. Baoku Olusola, along with three other members of the executive council, has been officially removed from office.

The decision was made during the 2024 NMA Kogi Annual General Meeting held on Saturday in Lokoja, the state capital.

The removal of Dr. Olusola, along with the association’s Treasurer, Director of Social Welfare, and Financial Secretary, followed allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office. The disciplinary action was based on a report presented by the Chairman of the Kogi State NMA Disciplinary Committee, Dr. Austin Ojotule.

In his report, Dr. Ojotule highlighted several key issues, including the refusal of the suspended executives to defend themselves against the allegations, despite being given multiple opportunities to do so. “The refusal to defend themselves is a gross abuse of privilege and an implicit acceptance of guilt for all the allegations leveled against them,” Ojotule stated.

Among the specific charges, the committee noted that Dr. Olusola had failed to convene a State Executive Committee meeting for the past six months, a clear violation of the NMA bylaws. Furthermore, Dr. Olusola was accused of bypassing the association’s internal conflict resolution mechanisms by unilaterally petitioning various members and officials of the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja (FTHL) to law enforcement agencies without proper authorization.

The report also criticized Dr. Olusola for engaging a lawyer on behalf of the association to file a petition against the Chief Medical Director of FTHL to the Minister of Health, again without approval from the State Officers Committee (SOC) or the State Executive Committee (SEC).

Despite directives from the NMA National Executive Council (NEC) in Abuja to resolve the ongoing crisis within the state chapter, Dr. Olusola reportedly ignored these instructions. Additionally, the disciplinary committee was unable to access the association’s accounts to fully investigate financial dealings due to the accounts being frozen.

Based on these findings, the committee recommended the impeachment of Dr. Olusola and the other suspended executives, effective from the date of their suspension. “This action is in accordance with Article 5 Section 4a (ii) of the NMA Constitution,” Dr. Ojotule added, also recommending that an audit committee be established to review the association’s accounts under the incoming executive council.