By Raphael Ekpang
Following a motion on the floor of the Senate, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and the Minister of Health, Ali Pate have been summoned to appear before the Hallowed chambers of the national assembly over the unfortunate death of Ms Greatness Olorunfemi at Maitama hospital, Abuja.
Late Olorunfemi fell a victim of ‘One Chance ‘ on Tuesday last week. She was robbed , stabbed and pushed down from a vehicle she boarded and was immediately rushed to Maitama hospital by good Samaritans but was not attended to by the medical personnels on duty for what they called ‘lack of Police report’.
It would be recalled that, police report has no place again in cases of emergency like her by the provisions of the Gunshots Act 2017 .
However, disturbed by the sad development , the Senate through a motion sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong representing Cross River South, mandated its committees on Health and Police to carry out thorough investigation on Olorunfemi’s death and report back in two weeks time
The Senate specifically mandated the joint committees to summon the Inspector – General of Police, the FCT Minister and his counterpart in the Heath Ministry, to appear before it , for explanations on why Olorunfemi bleed to death without being attended to , in violation of the extant law , provided for by Gunshots Act, 2017.
The red chamber also mandated its committees on Health , Police Affairs and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance .
Senator Ekpenyong had while presenting the motion quoted the Gunshots Act 2017 which states thus ” As from the commencement of this Act, every hospital in Nigeria whether public or private, shall accept or receive for immediate and adequate treatment with or without Police clearance , any person with a gunshot wound “.
He also quoted section 3 of the Act which states ” No gunshot victim shall be refused immediate and adequate treatment whether or not an initial monetary deposit has been paid ” .
He added that the Senate needs to amend section 13 of the Act for stiffer penalty against violators of the Act , saying N50,000.00 or five years imprisonment recommended, were nothing to human lives being wasted .
In his remarks after general debate on the motion and adoption of resolutions , the President of the Senate , Godswill Akpabio , said the time has come to make the Police and health personnel in the country to adhere to provisions of the Gunshots Act 2017 .
” The death of Greatness Olorunfemi was avoidable if provisions of the extant law have been adhered to .
” Police and health care providers in the country need to safe Nigerians from such avoidable deaths “, he said .
