By Sam Akanimo
Akwa Ibom State branch of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has explained why its Chairman, Dr. Emem Abraham, and his deputy, Dr. Aniekan Utuk, were impeached.
This was made public during the Ordinary General Congress of the NMA at its secretariat situated along Nwaniba Road in Uyo.
The ousted chairman and his executive were sworn in on July 16, 2022, and were supposed to serve till July 17, 2024. They were impeached on alleged charges of abuse of office, misuse of funds, and high-handedness.
In the wake of the impeachment, a motion was put forward and accepted by Congress to appoint Dr. Usenobong Morgan, the association’s Secretary, as the Acting Chairman.
This decision was ratified by a vote of 61 in favour and 13 against.
Speaking at the Doctor’s Mess on Monday, Dr. Morgan revealed that the impeached chairman and and his vice, were removed from their positions after five months of running the NMA in the state without a budget.
Yet, they allegedly spent millions of naira. They also presented a financial statement for a free medical outreach that only accounted for N6.00 million out of a total of N34 million.
Morgan also listed other reasons for the impeachment, including violations of the NMA National Constitution and the state Bye-laws, unjustifiably removing members from the association’s WhatsApp group, discrepancies in committee reports, failure to provide income details for the NMA Creche, high-handedness, impersonating the Secretary in official communication, and illegally suspending key figures within the association.
Morgan, additionally called for the immediate withdrawal of privileges and recognition bestowed on the impeached chairman and vice chairman, emphasizing the importance of informing the public about the leadership changes within the association.
“As the Secretary of the NMA, I have assumed the role of Acting Chairman following the impeachment of the Chairman and Vice Chairman.
“I am here to notify everyone that this change has occurred and to request that, in accordance with the congress resolution, all forms of recognition and privileges conferred upon the suspended individuals should cease and be withdrawn, as the congress has appointed me as the acting chairman”, he said.
