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By Emmanuel Adeleke
Operatives of the Zonal Anti-Piracy Unit of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested a secondary school dropout, Tayo Shakirudeen, who had been practising as a medical doctor.
The suspect, who is the CEO of Skylink Medical Centre, Elepe-Ikorodu, Lagos State, was arrested with forged certificates of Obafemi Awolowo University. Ile-Ife, Osun State, and Nigeria Medical and Dental Council.
It was gathered that he had been performing surgery and serious operations until last week when the appendix operation on a woman developed complication.
Shakirudeen was said to have been arrested following the intelligence gathered by the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command Headquarters, Onikan, comprising Lagos and Ogun State, Olatoye Durosinmi, through members of Elepe community concerning his activities.
The suspect was said to have confessed to electronic production of the certificates as he neither obtained any degree from the university nor certificate from the Medical and Dental Council as his real qualification is SSCE.
He also confessed that he has a total of six staff, two of which are trained nurses while four are amateurs.
According to him, he worked as nursing assistant at Fabo Medical Centre, Majidun, before establishing his own hospital.
The suspect confessed that he had successfully carried out three Cesarean Session and one appendicitis surgeries during his three years of unlawful practice as a medical practitioner.
Shakirudeen has been operating the hospital without a qualified/certified medical practitioner.
“I have worked in a hospital, so I was understanding the doctor when he was performing operations, especially appendicitis, I discovered that operation is not as complicated as doctors were making us believe. I felt I could do it, so I saved towards opening a hospital. I later succeeded in opening my hospital in Ikorodu and I have been trying my best.
“I must be candid, I forged a medical certificate from the Obafemi Awolowo University and the Nigeria Medical and Dental Council certificate which I presented to anyone who cared to investigate me.
“I have successfully done operations. I don’t know what happened to this woman that put me in trouble. I did my best for her to save her from untimely death, yet she paid me with ingratitude.
“Well, I regret what I did, so I am begging people to learn from my mistakes. I am very sorry, but I was so perfect. My first operation was tough, but I overcame the fear and nervousness after it,” he said.
While parading the suspect, Durosinmi warned members of the public to be wary of the medical homes they patronise, saying life has no duplicate.
Meanwhile, the zonal command said it is working with the Ministries of Health in Lagos and Ogun States to rid the zone of such practitioners.