Two Rivers Doctors Granted N2m Bail in Manslaughter Case

A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has approved a bail of N2 million for two doctors facing trial for alleged manslaughter. The defendants, Dr. Jude Okpani, a gynecologist, and Dr. Isaiah-Tunde Akinlade, an anesthesiologist, were arraigned by the Rivers State Government through the Ministry of Justice on charges related to negligence and manslaughter.

According to the charges, the medical professionals are accused of causing the death of Rebekah Tamunotorukubu-Sekidika on February 2, 2024, at a clinic in Port Harcourt. This incident allegedly resulted from their failure to administer the necessary dose of local spinal anesthesia, which led to a ruptured uterus during a medical procedure—an act that contravenes Section 325 of the Rivers State Criminal Code of Law, 1999.

When the charges were presented in court, both doctors pleaded not guilty. Their attorney, C.T. Walter, requested bail for his clients, a motion that the prosecution, represented by Senior State Counsel Christiana Tombari Bodo, did not contest but urged the court to impose strict conditions due to the sensitive nature of the case.

After considering the arguments from both parties, Justice Jumbo Stephens granted bail, specifying that each doctor must pay N1 million and provide two sureties—specifically the Chairman and Secretary of the Nigeria Medical Association, Rivers State Chapter. The judge also mandated that the sureties submit two passport photographs, with their addresses verified by a court official, alongside photocopies of valid identification documents such as a driver’s license, passport, or voter card.

In addition, Justice Stephens instructed the defendants to submit two passport photographs to the court registrar as part of the bail conditions. The court has set the next hearing dates for January 20 and 27, 2025, for a “definite” hearing.

Notably, Rebekah Tamunotorukubu-Sekidika, a promising 24-year-old first-class graduate in Microbiology from Benson Idahosa University in Edo State, was preparing for a Master’s degree trip to the United Kingdom when this tragic incident took place.