Kebbi State Ministry of Health has identified and arrested a fake Medical Doctor, Yusuf Omotayo Abdulfatahi, who was working with a popular private hospital along old garage road in Birnin Kebbi.

Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Sheahu Koko, who spoke through the acting Director, Medical Services in the Ministry, Dr. Lawal Kangiwa, said the fake doctor visited the Ministry last month, seeking employment with the state government.

“He came with his medical certificates claiming that he finished from Ahmadu Bello University (Abu) Zaria, in 2007, while the documents were sent to the National Medical and Health Dental Council for verification.

“After sending the report back to the Ministry from the National council that there was nobody of such identity who graduated from the university in 2007, we later invited him and the owner of the private hospital to the Ministry.

“He later confessed that he got the certificates through a computer designer in Lagos and was working with WHO in Lagos before coming to Kebbi State,” Kangiwa said.

He said Abdulfatahi worked in the private hospital after he presented fake certificates to the MD of the hospital.

“The guy ran out of luck when he attempted to get employed in the services of the state government. It was gathered that no such individual exists in the records after we investigated,” he added.

The permanent secretary of the SMOH communicated to the commissioner of police requesting his arrest, which was effected on January 30, 2023, alongside the owner of the private hospital, who was later released on bail.

He explained further that the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer of the medical association were present at the Ministry to give support to the SMOH in ensuring that they flush out fake and quack doctors from the health services of the state.

The Director added: “We have some that finished from health technology schools, claiming to be doctors and owning clinics. Some have killed some innocent patients.”

Confirming the incident, spokesperson of the state Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nafiu Abubakar said the suspect was with the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), and that investigation was ongoing.

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