By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin
An Egor Magistrate court sitting at Evbuoriaria, in Benin City, yesterday sentenced a 32 year-old man to ten years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
The accused, Jeremiah Onovwata was jailed without an option of fine for floating an unregistered private clinic, “Devine Maternity and clinic”, which metamorphosed into “Devine Nursing home and Maternity’’ on Siluko Road in the state capital, where he impersonated as the Chief Medical Director.
Special grade magistrate, Patricia Igho Braimoh, in his ruling, averred that the court was satisfied with the “uncontradicted prosecution evidence’’, which was corroborated by the evidence of the defence.
The court said the accused was therefore guilty as charged.
The jail term will run concurrently, for a period of two years. The court held that the convict was previously apprehended for the same offence in 2009, only to continue hook, line and sinker in the nefarious activities.
The magistrate who cited relevant sections of the law, held that the convict was earlier pardoned haven deposed to an undertaken never to impersonate as the Medical Director at the clinic and Maternity.
Onovwata pleaded guilty to the five-count charge preferred against him by the state Ministry of health, in collaboration with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria before the court.
Defence counsel, Mr. Evidence Ejemu Etimbowei however pleaded for allocators (“to set ruling apart for a special purpose’’), to enable the accused, who claimed to have attended Edo state School of Technology, Benin, meet his family needs.
Etimbowei, in an interview with newsmen, disclosed plans to appeal the ruling.
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