The Cross River State Police have arrested a fake medical doctor, Collins Orji, who opened and operated a medical facility called Excellent Hospital in Ngarabe, Ekureku, Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State. Orji has been detained in Obubra prison following an order by a magistrate’s court in Itigidi, Abi LGA.

Investigations revealed that Orji had been operating the hospital without a valid licence for both himself and the facility. The Cross River State Task Force on Health Quality and Anti Quackery discovered Orji’s illegal activities during a visit to his facility on July 11, 2024.

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Further inquiries by the task force uncovered that Orji had previously operated medical facilities in Ugep as St. Collins Hospital, in Ibogo, Biase LGA as Common Wealth Clinic, and most recently, Excellent Hospital in Ngarabe Ekureku, Abi LGA.

Dr. Dan Abubakar, Head of the Cross River State Task Force on Health Quality and Anti Quackery, stated that upon interacting with Orji, it was evident that he was not a qualified medical doctor and had no medical training. A source informed newsmen that Orji’s facility was not registered with the state government, and he lacked the necessary credentials to practice medicine and surgery in Nigeria.

In a video interaction, Orji claimed to be a trained homeopathic doctor but could not substantiate his claim. He reportedly carried out surgical operations on patients in his consulting room without the assistance of qualified nurses.

Dr. Abubakar confirmed that after establishing Orji’s lack of registrable credentials with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, the task force sealed Excellent Hospital in Ngarabe, Ekureku, before taking him to the police station in Itigidi.

Orji appeared before the Magistrate Court in Itigidi and was granted bail. However, unable to meet the bail conditions, he was remanded in custody at the Obubra prison. The case has been adjourned until August 9, 2024, for further hearing.