Police is already investigating the matter, NRC Legal Director
A top management staff of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Mr Niyi Alli last Thursday assaulted a medical doctor, Principal Medical Officer 1 in the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Ebute Metta, Dr Chukwunweke Ojeah.
Alli, the Director of Operations (DOps) allegedly drew a gun on the medical doctor, threatening to blow him up, after beating him to stupor, over the latter’s effrontery to challenge Alli’s reckless driving within the railway compound at Ebute Metta.
The beating left Ojeah with bleeding face and nose and also landed him in the FMC hospital bed.
The Nation checks indicated that Ojeah had attempted to board a tricycle within the railway compound on the night of Thursday, October 17, 2019 after the close of work, but was almost hit by an oncoming Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), which he protested against.
A source close to the scene of the incident told our correspondent that the protest didn’t go down well with the driver of the SUV, who happened to be the Director of Operations in the railways.
It was gathered that Alli queried the audacity of the medical doctor to challenge his reckless driving, which degenerated into arguments. In the process, Alli allegedly hit Ojeah with a short gun in the face, which led to serious bleeding.
It was further gathered that after the beating, Alli also invited the police, Area Commander, NRC, ACP Alami Adegoke to whisk Ogeah away, but the police retreated when Ojeah introduced himself as a fellow public servant in the same railway compound.
Besides, the FMC management had petitioned the Managing Director of NRC, Engr. Fidet Okhira to protest against the assault against one of its staff.
The petition dated Friday, October 18, 2019 with the reference number: FMCEB/HR/0532 with the head: ‘Report of Assault on Dr. Chukwunweike Paul Ojeah,’ alleged that Alli hit the victim on the face leading to laceration into his nose and eyebrow.
The petition, which was signed by Mr. H.H. Etim, Assistant Director (Admin) for Medical Director, claimed that since the attack on the doctor, he had been on admission at the hospital, while the director has been working the streets free without any remorse.
The petition added: “Mr. Niyi Alli ordered the Area Commander to send for his men to pick him and lock him up. At this point, Dr. C.P. Ojeah introduced himself with his identity card as a fellow public servant serving with Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta. On hearing this, they abandoned him and took off with their vehicles.
“Dr. Ojeah in his agony, went to the NRC Police Command headquarters and lodged a report where he was advised to seek medical attention for stabilization. Ojeah is currently on admission receiving medical attention in the hospital and assault.”
Incidentally, the wife of the assaulted medical doctor is also a staff of NRC.
However, the Director Legal Services of the Corporation Mr Obiora Emedolibe, who confirmed the incident in a telephone interview on Sunday, said the matter is being investigated by the police.
“We would not fully respond to this matter until the police submit its report which we believed would be done in the next 24 hours.”
According to Emedolibe, the NRC would make a full reaction to the incident after the police concluded its investigation in the matter. He however denied that Alli drew gun against Ojeah.
- The Nation