The Zone 16 command of the Nigeria Police Force has arrested a man identified as Doubara Esamasuode, who had been operating as a medical doctor without a valid license in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Esamasuode was running his fraudulent medical practice under the name of St. Maximilian Medical Centre, located at Winners Junction in the Etegwe area. The arrest occurred on August 25, 2024, and he was paraded before the media during a press briefing on Thursday, August 29, 2024.
The arrest was carried out by detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department’s Surveillance and Intelligence unit. During a search of his premises, law enforcement officers recovered a range of medical supplies, including injection syringes, various drugs, hospital equipment, and 200 copies of ultrasound reports.
Also found at the site was an enlarged photograph of what was later identified as a fake convocation picture.
SP Emonena Gunn, the spokesperson for Zone 16, stated that Doubara Esamasuode has confessed to multiple charges, including operating as a fake medical doctor, running an illegal medical facility, forgery, and impersonation. The arrest serves as a strong message that criminal activities will not be tolerated in the zone. SP Gunn added that the investigation is ongoing and the suspect is expected to be charged in court soon.
The spokesperson also urged the public to remain vigilant and to cooperate with law enforcement agencies by providing timely information that could aid in the apprehension of criminal elements.
One of Doubara Esamasuode’s victims, who chose to remain anonymous, shared her distressing experience with the fake doctor. She recounted being referred to him by a relative, believing that his treatments could help her conceive. She paid N30,000 for an initial consultation, where she was told her body was fine and that she would conceive in three months. Esamasuode administered an injection and provided her with a tablet, which she later discovered was Primolut N, a drug used to stop menstruation rather than to confirm pregnancy. Despite subsequent scans showing no pregnancy, Esamasuode insisted on further treatments, including a costly referral to another practitioner. Eventually, she realized the treatment was fraudulent and sought help elsewhere.
Another victim described how following Esamasuode’s instructions nearly cost her life. She took the prescribed drugs, experienced a cessation of menstruation for six months, and then suffered severe bleeding that led to a medical emergency. She reported that the fake doctor’s instructions had put her health at significant risk.
When confronted with the allegations, Doubara Esamasuode admitted to operating as a fake doctor but claimed that the photograph in question was mistakenly labeled as a convocation picture by the photographer. He acknowledged the use of the medical equipment and his status as an impostor. Esamasuode pleaded for mercy, explaining that an accident in 2019 had prevented him from completing his education at the University of Abuja, which led him to engage in the fraudulent practice.
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