A man posing as a Medical Laboratory scientist has been jailed without an option of fine by a Magistrate court in Delta state.
One Mr Peter Chukwuemeka Okafor, a fake Medical laboratory Scientist has been convicted by a magistrate court (Court 1) in Agbor, Delta State according to Leadership.
The accused was consequently sentenced to six months in prison without an option of fine for impersonating a Medical Laboratory Scientist, Mr Koru Kere Cletus.
In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP in Abuja, the Medical Laboratory Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), noted that while commenting on the court verdict, the Registrar/CEO of the council, Prof Anthony Emeribe described the judgment of the court as a victory for Nigerians who have been clamouring for sanity in the medical laboratory services sector.
He said, “Regrettably, these mindless quacks have been using unsuspecting patients as guinea pigs. It is another milestone in the council’s quest to eradicate quackery in the profession.”
Emeribe noted that with the victory, nefarious elements in the sector must be aware that it is no longer business as usual, and that they’ve no hiding place.
He reassured that the Council will not relent in its efforts to ensure that Nigerian patients receive only accurate and reliable test results when they submit themselves to laboratory investigations. ‘Only well trained personnel, recognized by Council are authorized to practice as medical lab scientists in the country. Those who attempt to do so without Council approval are making mockery of the law and endangering the lives of the citizens, and we won’t tolerate that,’ he said, promising that Council will continue to work towards the actualization of its mandate as enunciated in Act 11, 2003.