Posted by By MUYIWA ODU and CHIOMA OBIORA on
The quest by a man and his wife to get their own biological children after many years of marriage has put them in double jeopardy following their encounter with a fake medical doctor, who also posed as an Army major.
The quest by a man and his wife to get their own biological children after many years of marriage has put them in double jeopardy following their encounter with a fake medical doctor, who also posed as an Army major.
The man and his wife (names withheld) are currently on danger list and risk not having children, if they survive, following substances which the fake doctor allegedly injected into them through their private parts. In addition, they have lost several thousands of naira in the process.
Daily Sun gathered that the unsuspecting couple, who were in desperate search for the fruit of the womb, met "Major (Dr)" Yakubu Joseph, at a church revival through a concerned friend. The fake doctor had promised them that he would solve their problem if they could foot the bill.
To convince them that he could solve their problem, Joseph was said to have introduced himself as a gynecologist as well as army officer and claimed to have solution to every problem relating to child bearing. He was said to have attributed the couple's problem to low sperm count of the husband.
To treat the couple, Joseph had charged them N50, 00 if the treatments would be carried out in his office located in the Maza-Maza area of Lagos or N100, 000 of they preferred home treatment.
The couple opted for treatments at home and subsequently paid N100, 000 to the fake doctor, after which treatment commenced on September 11, 2004.
Daily Sun gathered that the ‘Dr' Joseph had moved into the couple's apartment and commenced the treatment. He was said to have placed his "patients" on special diet. He was said to have injected the couple through their private parts while he explained to the woman that there was something in her stomach that had been eating her unborn children.
As ‘Dr' Joseph continued dispensing his therapy, the couple started having health problem. They were rushed to a hospital in Apapa. At the hospital they were informed of the damaged caused to their body by the fake doctor.
Sensing that the game was up, the fake doctor bolted. But he was arrested later, following a tip-off by some spirited neighbours of the couple.
The police discovered that Joseph was neither in the army nor was he a medical practitioner. Police sources said that since his arrest was effected, Joseph has been claiming that he developed mental problems after leaving the Army. The police, however, alleged that his claims are false as they had taken the pains to check psychiatric hospitals and found out that he was never a patient in any of the institutes.
Already, the accused is currently facing a two-count charge of impersonation as an army major, a medical doctor as well as an attempted murder at an Igbosere Magistrate's Court in Lagos.
The offences are punishable under section 484 of criminal code laws Cap. 17, vol. of Lagos laws of Nigeria 2003 and section 337 criminal code law, Cap 17, Vol. II Lagos laws of Nigeria 2003.
When the case came up for hearing recently, the accused person pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge preferred against him and was subsequently granted bail in the sum of N200, 000 and two sureties in like sum.
Further hearing on the matter has been adjourned till October 10, 2005.
Meanwhile, the couple is battling to live. They have been flown abroad for treatment.