A patient, Ahmed Usman, 40, is set to face trial at the Chief Magistrate Court 1 in Damaturu, Yobe State, over allegations of assaulting a medical doctor, Fatima Umar Gamsa, at the General Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital.
The case, scheduled for hearing on August 19, has been confirmed by the Chairman of the Association of Resident Doctors, Yobe State Branch, Dr. Umar Aji.
Speaking to PUNCH Metro on Thursday, Aji said the association had reported the case to the police and was awaiting the court’s verdict.
“The case is now before a court, and the association will not say anything pending the outcome of the court verdict,” he emphasised.
Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that a resident of Abba Ibrahim Housing Estate in Damaturu, the state capital, Ahmed Usman, is currently remanded at the Potiskum Correctional Service pending the hearing of the case.
Confirming the case, SP Dungus Abdulkarim said the matter is before the State Chief Magistrate Court 1 Damaturu, for hearing. “We have already handed the case to the court for determination on a date fixed for hearing,” Dungus confirmed.
The Chief Magistrate Court 1 registry confirmed that the case had been adjourned to August 19 for hearing, with the accused remanded in custody pending the hearing date.
A hospital management staff member, who wished to remain anonymous due to a lack of authority to speak on the matter, provided insight into the incident. According to the staff member, “The patient, Ahmed Usman, was scheduled for a review with the doctor on duty. However, when the doctor called out his name, he was not present, and the folder was set aside while the next patient was attended to.”
He continued, “After the day’s work, the patient became agitated, feeling he had been overlooked. In a shocking turn of events, the patient went outside, cut a branch from a tree, and used it to assault the doctor.
“Hospital security personnel intervened to control the situation, and the incident was reported to the police.”
Efforts to speak with Gamsa were unsuccessful, as she was on a bed rest leave recovering from the incident.
Our correspondent further learnt that she was advised to allow the court to determine the case, as it is now a matter of legal proceedings.(Punch)
