Omafuvwe Jerome Ighowho, a Nigerian doctor who lives in Saudi Arabia, has pleaded with the Director-General of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, to intervene on his behalf while he is being held by law enforcement.
Ighowho made the request in response to an incident in which he was alleged to have assaulted his Sudanese colleague, Dr. Adel Idris, for which the Saudi authorities had imprisoned him.
The doctor stated that he had only been in Saudi Arabia for 23 months before Idris started fighting with him, this is contained in a letter to the commission that was copied to the Nigerian Consulate General in Jeddah.
According to Nigeria Abroad, they both work for Tabalah General Hospital in the country’s Tabalah, Bisha City, and Aseer region. Until an unfortunate incident where their play resulted in a minor injury to Idris’s right knee.
In spite of his deteriorating health, he said, the incident resulted in him being remanded in detention without end in sight.
The letter read: “I am Omafuvwe Jerome Ighowho with passport number A12519900 and NIN 10418960616 Iquama 2492447301. I have been living in Saudi Arabia for about 23 months at Tabalah General Hospital, Tabalah, Bisha City, Aseer region.
“I am from Ughelli North LGA, Delta State and my permanent address is at House 28 Sheraton Estate Abule Oko Agbado, Ogun State. +966533818972 and ±2347067624826.
On July 30, 2022, I had an incident with my fellow Sudanese doctor. After the resumption of duty, I decided to greet other doctors who were to work with me for the shift.
“Then I saw Dr Adel Idris and another Dr Isiah Awuri. I was explaining to Dr Isiah that Dr Adel Idris normally comes to work late and that day he also came late. Then Dr Adel Idris approached me and was saying why would I say he comes to work late.
He said this with laughter and jokes but he held my two arms. I was laughing and also held him in the same manner as I was thrown off balance because of the firm grip from Adel (the Sudanese doctor) just to attain a good balance.
“We were both laughing and I then pushed him back to release myself from him as Dr Isiah (my Nigerian colleague) kept saying we should stop this rough play.
“Unfortunately, he struck his leg on the wall and fell down after which I assisted him up onto an examination bed. Thereafter, he said his knees were hurt and had an X-ray which showed he had a less than 2cm fracture on the right knee.
“Dr Isiah observed what happened and that we were not involved in a scuffle but a friendly encounter. Also, Dr Mai, a female Sudanese doctor, briefly saw we were joking and walked away.
“About some hours later, Dr Adel Idris came with the police, claiming that I assaulted him. I asked him did I assault you? He said No, then why call police?
“He never answered. This was on several occasions. On explaining to the hospital management, they understood the situation and pleaded with him not to go forward with his complaint, but he insisted.”
The letter stated further: “The whole hospital management and Sudanese community have pleaded and even offered him financial compensation, change of hospital and job description, but he declined all.
