By Ijeoma Obioma in Makurdi.
Dr.James korinjo.
A 70-year-old man, Mathias Korinjo, died on Sunday of alleged heart attack following the unlawful detention of his son, Dr James Korinjo, in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The deceased’s son, Dr. James Konrinjo, a medical doctor with Medecines De Monde (MDM) at the GTS Clinic, Damboa Local Government Area, (LGA), Borno State, was detained by the police since March 2024, after he uncovered fraudulent medical malpractices in the Clinic where he is the medical doctor/team lead.
A statement from the family said when the medical doctor raised concerns for the safety and welfare of the indigenes in the community who access the medical services, “it did not go down well with the organisation.”
“Dr. Konrinjo has since been in the maximum Police detention facilities from the Borno State Police Criminal Investigation Department (State CID) to the Crack Unit of the Borno State CID from the 18th day of March till date,” the statement reads in part.
The detained doctor’s elder brother, Engr. Martins Korinjo, told journalists in Makurdi, that their father,a chartered Accountant, became heartbroken and could no longer take the torture.
He died on Sunday at an undisclosed hospital in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
“The prolonged detention of Dr
James triggered his BP. He was admitted and managed by his personal physician, only for him to have cardiac arrest this morning (Sunday) which led to his demise. Since he heard the news, he has not been himself and finally, today, he couldn’t make it.
“I kept telling him that everything is under control but he said this is getting to a month. “He kept asking so many questions like what has his son done that they are holding him. Is he alive or they have killed him? But I told him, I assured him that he is alive.
“I told him that when my mum gets to the crack unit today, I will get him to speak with his son, Dr James, so he will believe that he is still alive.I spoke to the NMA in Borno and he told me he will take up the matter today. I have also sent petition to the security agencies,” Engr. Korinjo said.
He further lamented that while his brother was still in detention, the company went and gave him a letter that they are inviting him to a disciplinary committee, adding that it was even after they gave him suspension letter while he was still in same detention.
“This organisation my brother works for has not contacted us the family members over this matter till date. So, it’s like their plan is to make sure that my brother is killed and then they would cook up a story and tell us,” he added.
Engr. Korinjo,therefore,called on the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, the Inspector General of Police and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Chairman in Borno state to look into the matter and ensure the release of his brother.
Edited by Dawud Ahmed.
