Police arrest fake doctor who aborted 5-month-old pregnancy

A 26-year-old fake doctor, Akilapa Johnson, has been arrested by the Oyo State Police Command for aborting a five-month-old pregnancy for a 23-year-old lady, Barakat (surname withheld).

Johnson, who is said to be an Ordinary Level Certificate holder as well as trained in application of first aid, reportedly carried out the abortion, which turned out to be life-threatening, in his one-bedroom apartment turned clinic at Sasa area of Ibadan recently.

Speaking on the suspect’s arrest on Monday during a press briefing, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Leye Oyebade, told the Nigerian Tribune that shortly after the abortion, the lady developed serious complications which resulted in her being admitted at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, where she was still lying critically ill.

The commissioner of police stated further that investigations revealed that Johnson, who had a limited knowledge of medicine with his training as a para-medic nurse, had been treating unsuspecting patients who mistook him for a qualified doctor.

Oyebade listed the exhibits recovered from the suspects to include two pieces of stethoscope, two pieces of Plaster of Paris bandage, four pairs of gloves as well as needles and syringes.

During an interview with the suspect, he confessed to have carried out the abortion, but said that the victim was his first patient.

The lady’s boyfriend, Okorie Ikenna (29), who was also arrested, told the Nigerian Tribune that he never asked his girlfriend to abort his pregnancy.

Also arrested were two suspected kidnappers, Oladimeji Olamide (26) and Oke Olufemi (29) who were accused of abducting their victim, one Sakiru Adebayo, from his residence in Ile-Ife, Osun State on July 15.