FCTA establishes a 9-member tribunal to look into the death of a victim with “one chance”

A nine-person panel has been established by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to look into the death of the late Ms Greatness Olorunfemi, who was a victim of “one-chance operators.”

Inaugurating the group on Thursday in Abuja, the Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, stated that the panel’s conclusions would be very helpful in identifying ways to enhance and achieve efficient health care delivery.

Olorunfemi was allegedly denied medical attention by Maitama District Hospital after being pushed out of a moving car by “one-chance operators” on September 26. This is according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Olorunfemi was a community builder and a part of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Network up to her death.

Eyewitness sources claim that she passed away as a result of Maitama District Hospital in Abuja allegedly refusing to admit and treat her following her experience at the hands of the hoodlums.

Fasawe claims that the panel members were chosen to contribute their vast experience through meticulous investigation and discussion in order to determine what caused the disaster and give solutions.

This panel will be essential to the investigation of this case and the achievement of justice.

“We have examined the legislative foundation for forming a nine-person investigative panel, the selection process, and the panel’s duties and obligations in looking into the alleged death and ensuring accountability.

“The aim is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the steps involved in addressing such incidents and promoting a culture of transparency and accountability in the Nigerian healthcare system,” he stated.

Members of the panel were urged by Fasawe to approach the task as a worthwhile service to the country by conducting the incident investigation in a thorough, professional, and effective manner.

The panel’s Terms of Reference (ToR), according to the secretary, include determining the patient’s clinical status at the time of arrival and all developments leading up to and including death.

Additionally, it is to ascertain who played what roles in the tragic death of Olorunfemi and to offer suggestions for future cases that may resemble this one.

She stated that the inquiry and report submission would take one week.

The investigation panel’s chairman, Prof. Aminu Mohammed, the president of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), praised the initiative taken to establish the panel.

According to him, such a gesture from the government, civil society organizations, and the general public would reestablish trust in how affairs are handled because it has an impact on the welfare and quality of life of the populace.

“As we are sworn in today, we will uphold the oath we have taken on behalf of the members.

“We are going to critically examine the system and make decisions based on that analysis,” he said. “Provisional investigations will be conducted on everyone who has a connection to what happened.”

The panel also includes Dr. Abdul Adelowo of the Association of Pathologists of Nigeria (ASSOPON), Mr. Micheal Nnachi, President of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), and Mr. Babatunde Irukera, Executive Vice Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

They also include Dr. Abubakar Ahmadu, Vice President of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr. Ezuma Nnamdi, HS and ES, Dr. Ochi Christabel, Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), and Barrister Salman Dako, General Counsel of the FCTA.

The panel secretary will be Gloria Dandam, the Director of Administration of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat.