Interview
Senate summons IGP Egbetokun, Wike, Pate over ‘One-chance’ victim’s death in Abuja
Senate on Thursday summoned the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, the Minister of Health, Ali Pate and his Federal Capital Territory, FCT counterpart, Nyesom Wike over the avoidable death of Ms Greatness Olorunfemi at the Maitama General Hospital last week.
Olorunfemi had on Tuesday, September 26 fell victim of one chance criminals in Abuja, who stabbed her in the vehicle she boarded and thrown out in her pool of blood.
She was immediately rushed to Maitama District Hospital by good Samaritans, but refused to be treated for lack of Police report, which however has been made unnecessary by provisions of the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victim of Gunshots Act, 2017.
Disturbed by the sad development , the Senate through a motion sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC Cross River South) mandated its Committees on Health and Police to carry out thorough investigation on Olorunfemi’s death and report back in two weeks time.
It specifically mandated the joint committees to summon the IGP and the concern ministers to appear before it, for explanations on why Olorunfemi bled to death without being attended to, in violation of the extant law provided for by the Gunshots Act, 2017.
The Red Chamber also mandated its Committees on Health, Police Affairs and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.
Senator Ekpenyong had while presenting the motion quoted the Gunshots Act 2017 which states thus “As from the commencement of this Act, every hospital in Nigeria whether public or private, shall accept or receive for immediate and adequate treatment with or without Police clearance, any person with a gunshot wound.”
He also quoted section 3 of the Act which states: “No gunshot victim shall be refused immediate and adequate treatment whether or not an initial monetary deposit has been paid.”
He added that the Senate needs to amend section 13 of the Act for stiffer penalty against violators of the Act, saying N50,000 or five years imprisonment recommended, were nothing to human lives being wasted.
In his remarks after general debate on the motion and adoption of resolutions, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said the time has come to make the Police and health personnel in the country to adhere to provisions of the Gunshot Act.
“The death of Greatness Olorunfemi was avoidable if provisions of the extant law have been adhered to.
“Police and health care providers in the country need to safe Nigerians from such avoidable deaths,” he said.
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