A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has granted bail to two medical doctors, Dr. Jude Okpani, a gynecologist, and Dr. Isiah-Tunde Akinlade, an anesthetist, accused of manslaughter in connection with the death of 24-year-old Rebekah Tamunotorukubu-Sekidika.
The doctors, arraigned by the Rivers State Government through the Ministry of Justice, are facing a two-count charge of manslaughter and negligence. The charges allege that the doctors caused the death of Rebekah on February 2, 2024, at a clinic in Port Harcourt by failing to administer the correct dose of local spinal anesthesia, leading to a uterine rupture during a medical procedure.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read in court.
During the proceedings, their counsel, C.T. Walter, applied for bail, which was not opposed by the prosecution, represented by Christiana Tombari Bodo, Senior State Counsel in the Ministry of Justice. However, the prosecution requested stringent bail conditions due to the sensitivity of the case.
Presiding over the case, Justice Jumbo Stephens granted bail to the doctors, setting conditions including a sum of ₦1 million each and two sureties who must be the Chairman and Secretary of the Nigeria Medical Association, Rivers State Chapter. The sureties were also required to provide passport photographs and valid identification documents, which would be verified by the court.
The accused were also directed to submit two passport photographs to the court registrar as part of the bail conditions.
Justice Stephens adjourned the case to January 20 and 27, 2025, for a definite hearing.
The incident leading to the charges involved Rebekah, a first-class graduate of Microbiology from Benson Idahosa University in Benin, Edo State. She was preparing for a master’s degree program in the United Kingdom when the tragic event occurred. The case has drawn significant attention due to the victim’s promising future and the circumstances surrounding her death.
