A 39-year-old man arrested for allegedly posing as a medical doctor in Cross River State has confessed to treating at least 15 patients over the years. The suspect, Udeme Emmanuel Ekpeme, was taken into custody by operatives of the Uwanse Police Division in Calabar South Local Government Area following a complaint by Mrs. Edemawan Samuel. She accused him of impersonation, obtaining money by false pretense, and operating an illegal mobile clinic.
Details of the Alleged Fraud
Police allege that Ekpeme fraudulently obtained N500,000 from Mrs. Samuel after promising to secure employment for her children at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH). In his confession, the suspect said he dropped out of medical school but bought medical equipment with the hope of raising enough money to return and complete his studies.
Ekpeme stated, "If I can raise money to return to medical school, I will. So I bought medical equipment for testing so that whenever patients come, I can use them to diagnose them. Often, when one patient sees that my treatment is effective, the person recommends another." He claimed that between 2014 and 2026, he treated at least 15 patients despite not being a licensed medical practitioner.
Misuse of Funds
The suspect also admitted collecting N500,000 from the complainant over the promised UCTH jobs but said he diverted the money to settle a debt of N700,000. "I was already owing somebody N700,000 and they had been disturbing me to pay. They even seized my Android phone, so I used the money to offset the debt," he confessed.
Mrs. Samuel said she became suspicious when Ekpeme demanded an additional N40,000, claiming it was needed to facilitate banking transactions for the supposed employment. "When he demanded the N40,000, I had a strong feeling he just wanted to collect the money and chop. I contacted my brother, who said he was a scammer, and we reported the matter to the police," she explained. She further alleged that the suspect had administered several injections to her and her two children while presenting himself as a qualified doctor.
Police Confirmation and Caution
Confirming the arrest, the Cross River State Police Command said preliminary investigations showed the suspect falsely presented himself as a medical doctor and unlawfully obtained N500,000 from the complainant under the guise of securing employment for her children at UCTH. Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, said exhibits linked to the alleged offenses had been recovered and that the suspect remained in custody. Akata also cautioned members of the public against patronizing unlicensed medical practitioners.
