June 6, (THEWILL)- Following allegations of gross misconduct, high-handedness and misappropriation of funds, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Akwa Ibom State chapter, has impeached its Chairman and Vice Chairman, Prof. Emem Abraham and Dr Aniekan Utuk respectively.
THEWILL reports that the impeachment of the duo occurred during an Ordinary General Congress, on Wednesday, at the NMA Secretariat, Kilometer 8, Nwaniba Road, Uyo.
A motion for impeachment was nominated, seconded and voted for, by 71 members present at the Congress.
The administration of the embattled Chairman, Prof. Abraham, was sworn in on July 16, 2022, and was due to complete its tenure by July 17, 2024.
However, the Secretary of the Association, Dr Usenobong Morgan Akpan, was voted in as Acting Chairman, after the motion was nominated and accepted by Congress, even as the decision was ratified by a vote of 61 in favour against 13.
Briefing journalists at Doctor’s Mess, Udo Udoma Avenue, shortly after the exercise, Dr Akpan disclosed that the embattled Chairman and his vice were impeached on grounds of “running the NMA Akwa Ibom State for 5 months without a budget while expending millions of naira, and presenting to State Executive Council a financial statement for free medical outreach accounting for only N6 million out of N34 million questioned.”
According to the acting chairman, other grounds for their impeachment included “Breaching the NMA National Constitution and Akwa Ibom State Bye-laws, unconstitutionally ejecting members from the association’s WhatsApp group, anomalies in committee reports, presenting a financial statement for NMA Creche without showing income, high-handedness, impersonating the Secretary in official communication, and illegally suspending the President, Association of Resident Doctors, Chairman, National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), and NMA Secretary.”
Dr Akpan, who called for the immediate withdrawal of privileges hitherto accrued to the embattled Chairman and her vice, as well as recognitions, said the briefing was imperative to inform the public of the changes in the association’s leadership.
“As the Secretary of the NMA, I was made to be the Acting Chairman of the Association by virtue of hierarchy; the Chairman and Vice being impeached, I am the next, that is why I’m here to notify that that change has occurred and our request is that, following the resolution of the congress, everyone should cease and withdraw all forms of recognition and privileges accrued to the suspended persons going forward because the congress has made an Acting Chairman which is my own self”, he stated.
In a swift reaction, the embattled chairman, Professor Emem Abraham, said she is still the Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Akwa Ibom State chapter.
Abraham, at a press conference in Uyo, on Tuesday evening, declared the action of the secretary as null and void and urged the public to ignore the said impeachment news.
She explained that Akpan is currently being investigated by the disciplinary committee of the association, adding that he had in the past, unilaterally sabotaged resolutions of the Congress
Abraham further explained that the association’s ordinary general meeting (OGM) held on 2nd June, 2024, went into a recess due to the disruptive conduct of a member, Dr Edikan Ackley.
She noted that the recess was necessary to enable the leadership of the union to engage security agencies to safeguard lives and properties during subsequent meetings.
She revealed that the OGM was later convened virtually on 3rd June, 2024, by 5:00 pm, and had over 180 members in attendance, and no impeachment process was instituted against her or the Vice Chairman.
“For avoidance of doubt, there was no impeachment process of the Chairman or any other officer of the Association and the Chairman, Prof Emem Abraham and the Vice Chairman Dr Aniekan Utuk have not been impeached.
“NMA AKS is intact and Prof Emem Abraham is in charge as the Chairman. She remains the 18th Chairman of the association in Akwa Ibom.
“To this end, members and the general public are enjoined to disregard the falsehood being peddled by a suspended trainee member, Dr Usenobong Morgan.
“Appropriate sanctions shall be applied to members who have brought the association to disrepute in no time”
Also, the Public Relations Officer of NMA, Dr Unyime Ndoh, in a counter statement, urged members to disregard the information from the acclaimed acting Chairman, Dr Morgan.
“This is to inform all members of NMA AKS that the Ordinary General Meeting, which was held today, went into a recess and will reconvene soonest. Please disregard any contrary information,” he informed.
Meanwhile, further investigation into the matter by our correspondent reveals that the crisis in the NMA Akwa Ibom chapter began after the kidnapping of Dr John Robbin Esu in Oron local government area on April 30, 2024, at his place of work.
Following a 15-day stay with his abductors, the embattled Chairman, in a bid to expedite action from the government and police for the release of Dr Esu, initiated a 3-day warning strike.
At the expiration of the strike without the release of Dr Esu, Dr Abraham issued another notice for an indefinite strike by the association.
According to findings, the strike was later flouted by some members sympathetic to the government, which led to the suspension of some members including Dr Aniekpeno Eyo, President of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), and Dr Idara Usen, Chairman, National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), who directed their members not to participate in the strike.
The suspended ARD President and NAGGMDP Chairman later restrategised and mobilised support for Prof. Abraham’s impeachment, which was executed on Sunday.
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