The International Federation of Female Lawyers, IFFL, Delta State
Branch on Wednesday October accused Royal Clinic in Udu Local Government
Area of allegedly detaining two minors, Caryn Erikhioya (16yrs) and
Great Favour (14 years) for eight months against their wish over
unsettled N400,000 (four hundred thousand naira) medical bills.
IFFL chairperson, Mary Akujobi who led a team of female lawyers,
disclosed that the two girls were knocked down from a commercial
motorcycle along Udu Expressway by one Alfred Ogboru since January.
Akujobi claimed that the two girls sustained grievous bodily injuries with one of them having a fractured leg.
Akukobi stated that the victims were rushed to the hospital for
treatment by the same Alfred Ogboru, who deposited twenty thousand naira
with a promise to take full responsibility of the medical bills.
Akujobi claimed that Ogboru later abandoned the girls in the
hospital, which he allegedly claimed to be his private clinic and
refused to pay the medical bills.
Akujobi stated that the continued detention of the two girls who
cannot speak for themselves under the law of contract was “unlawful”.
“We want their immediate release because it is unacceptable. Their lives are being wasted here,” she said.
Akujobi who was flanked by Mrs. Cynthia Onyegurlae, Mrs. Jeromah
Olugida, Mrs. Fejiro Itesah Edafe and Mr. Joshua Omorere, President of
the Nigerian Child Welfare Fund vowed that her organization will take
the girls out of the hospital.
However, the Medical Director of Royal Hospital who was simply
identified as Dr. Owata faulted the claims of Akujobi saying, “your
choice of words are wrong.
“They were not kidnapped. They were brought to the hospital for treatment and that we did.”
Owata challenged her to go to court over the matter.
He pointed out that the said Ogboru agreed to take full
responsibility of the medical bills incurred but later abandoned the
girls at the hospital.
The doctor noted that efforts to reach Alfred Ogboru who before now had been patronizing the hospital were futile.
Owata said the grand mother of the two girls promised to take
responsibility of the medical bills when Alfred Ogboru disappeared after
dropping his particulars.
As of the time of filing this report, the two sisters are still confined to a room in the hospital.