Fake Doctor Admits Treating 15 Patients After Police Arrest

(The quack doctor . Photo Credit; Daily Trust)

After leaving medical school, a 39-year-old man who was detained for allegedly pretending to be a doctor in Cross River State has admitted to treating at least 15 patients over the years.

Udeme Emmanuel Ekpeme, the suspect, was taken into custody by Uwanse Police Division officers in Calabar South LGA after Mrs. Edemawan Samuel filed a complaint accusing him of impersonation, acquiring money under false pretenses, and running an illicit mobile clinic.

Police claimed that after promising to provide her kids jobs at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Ekpeme deceitfully took N500,000 from the woman.

According to the suspect's confession, he left medical school but purchased medical supplies in the hopes of increasing enough money to return and complete his studies.

"I will return to medical school if I can get the necessary funds. In order to diagnose patients whenever they come, I purchased medical testing equipment.

When a patient witnesses the efficacy of my treatment, they frequently recommend me to others, he added.

Despite not having a medical license, he said he treated at least 15 patients between 2014 and 2026.

Additionally, the suspect acknowledged receiving N500,000 from the complainant for the promised UCTH jobs; nevertheless, he claimed to have used the money to pay off a N700,000 debt.

"They had been bothering me to pay the N700,000 I already owed them.

He admitted, "I used the money to offset the debt because they even took my Android phone."

The complainant claimed that when the suspect requested an extra N40,000, saying that it was necessary to enable banking transactions for the purported position, she grew skeptical.

"I had a strong suspicion that he merely wanted to take the money and chop when he asked the N40,000. We reported the situation to the authorities when I spoke with my brother, who claimed he was a scammer," she stated.

She further said that the guy, posing as a licensed physician, had given her and her two children many shots.

The Cross River State Police Command confirmed the arrest, stating that preliminary investigations revealed the suspect pretended to be a doctor and illegally took N500,000 from the complainant under the pretense of getting her children a job at UCTH.

Exhibits connected to the alleged crimes have been found, according to Police Public Relations Officer ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, and the suspect is still being held.

Additionally, Akata warned the public not to use unlicensed medical professionals.