Man in court for performing unauthorised surgery which resulted in death of patient

A Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State, on Thursday, remanded a 39-year-old man, Lawrence Omatule, for allegedly performing an illegal surgery on a woman which led to her death.

Omatule is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit murder and murder.

The court did not take his plea, as the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Adeola Adedayo , said that she needed advice from Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

She ordered that the defendant should be kept at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre pending the DPP’s advice.

Earlier, the prosecutor, ASP Rita Momah, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on April 1, at Feloban Alpha Convalescent Home located at No. 15, Adesanya St., Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos State.

Momah said that the defendant performed an unauthorised surgery on a resident of the home, Mrs Fatima Issah, and it led to her death.

According to the prosecutor, the defendant has accomplices but they are yet to be found.

The alleged offences contravene Sections 221 and 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Section 223 stipulates death penalty for murder while Section 221 provides for 14 years’ jail term for conspiracy to commit murder.