A trado-medical doctor simply identified as Abiodun was on Tuesday arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly raping and impregnating a 26-year-old patient, identified only as Funmilayo.
Abiodun allegedly raped the patient who is battling with ulcer at his health centre, Damola Healthcare – on Agbaje Street, in the Ipaja Ayobo area of the state.
He was arrested by officers attached to the Isokoko Police Division.
According to the Punch, the victim who resides two streets away from the suspect’s healthcare centre, had in December 2015, gone to the place to complain about ulcer and Abiodun’s workers had prescribed some herbal drugs for the lady, telling her that she would pay N18, 000 for comprehensive treatment.
Funmilayo was said to have deposited N10, 000 and treatment commenced.
However, when there was no improvement in her condition, Funmilayo requested to meet with Abiodun for further counselling in January 2016.
Abiodun reportedly took over Funmilayo’s treatment from his workers and on January 17, after conducting some tests on the patient, the doctor allegedly told her that she had womb infections and she needed to be further examined, asking her to come back two days later by 9am.
On January 19, Funmilayo got to the centre and Abiodun invited the patient to his office and allegedly asked her to undress to have her private parts examined.
In the process Abiodun allegedly raped Funmilayo and thereafter begged her not to disclose the incident to anyone.
Funmilayo, a National Diploma holder from a polytechnic in Lagos State who hails from Abeokuta, Ogun State, described what went on in the suspect’s office as shocking, adding that she could no longer keep the rape a secret when she found out she was pregnant.
She said, “On that day, when he arrived, we went into his office. He asked me to lie on the bed as he would insert a rubber tool into my private parts for examination. I did. My legs were far apart. He did that for some minutes, and suddenly I noticed he inserted his private parts.
“I shouted, but the cleaner did not come in. He stopped when he ejaculated. Immediately, he began to apologise that he did not know what came over him. I vowed not to return to the centre. I did not tell anybody because I thought I should just forget about it.
“It was in February that I found out I could not menstruate. I went for a scan, but nothing showed. By March, I went for another scan, and it showed that I was pregnant for six weeks and four days. When I informed him, he suggested abortion, which I rejected. That was how the trouble began.”
A police source said Funmilayo reported the matter at the Ayobo Police Division, when she discovered in February 2016, that she was pregnant, and the ‘doctor’ allegedly told her to have an abortion.
The police source said, “The ‘doctor’ agreed he had an affair with her, but he insisted that the victim should get rid of the pregnancy. The lady insisted that she would not risk her life to go for an abortion since she was not promiscuous.
“When the matter got to the Ayobo division, the ‘doctor’ was arrested and made to promise to take care of the lady. But after he was granted bail, the promise was not kept,” the source added.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed Abiodun’s arrest.
She said, “The ‘doctor’ has been arrested. The case is still under investigation.”
The matter was transferred to the state Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, DSVRT, Alausa, which referred the victim to Mirabel Centre, Ikeja, for a checkup.
The DSVRT Coordinator, Lola Vivour-Adeniyi, warned female patients to insist on having a female nurse around in the hospital room, whenever their private parts were to be examined by a male doctor.
According to her, “This is a rape by a traditional doctor which has now resulted in pregnancy. We requested that the case be transferred to the Family Support Unit of the Isokoko division from Ayobo division. The Department of Public Prosecutions has also requested the duplicate case file.
“The DSVRT has referred the victim to the OPD to get legal representation. She is also being given antenatal care at the Mirabel Centre.
“It must be emphasised that women must ensure that a female nurse is in the examination room whenever their private parts are to be examined by a male doctor.
“If that was done in this case, such sexual assault would not have taken place,” Lola added.
Meanwhile, Abiodun is yet to comment on the allegation.
