Published 1st Oct, 2022

By Tola Owoyele

Omafuvwe Jerome Ighowho, a Nigerian doctor detained in a Saudi Arabian prison for allegedly assaulting a colleague during a disagreement in July, has cried out for help.

In a letter addressed to the Nigerian Consulate General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and obtained by FIJ, Ighowho, who practices at a general hospital in Asir, southwest of the country, said he was arrested by the police after a scuffle he had with one Adel Idris, a Sudanese doctor, led to the latter sustaining a minor injury on his right knee.

“On July 30, 2022, I had an incident with my fellow Sudanese doctor. After resumption of duty, I decided to greet other doctors who were to work with me for the shift,” the letter reads in part.

“Then I saw Dr Adel Idris and another Dr Isiah Awuri. I was explaining to Dr Isiah that Dr Adel Idris normally came to work late and that day he also came late. Then Dr Adel Idris approached me and was saying why would I say he came to work late. He said this with laughter and jokes, but he held my two arms.

“I was laughing and also held him 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.'”

Ighowho said the push would make Idris hit his right knee against a wall before losing balance and then falling to the ground. After this, Idris had his knee x-rayed and the result showed he had suffered a minor fracture (of less than two centimetres).

“About some hours later, Dr Adel Idris came with the police, claiming that I assaulted him,” the letter further reads.

“I asked him, did I assault you? He said no. Then why call the 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 whole hospital management and Sudanese community have pleaded and even offered him financial compensation, change of hospital and job description, but he declined all.

“Moreover, the policemen at the station also pleaded with him to solve this issue amicably – he declined. At this point, everyone has tried to get to him, pleading. He is nowhere to be found, neither does he pick his calls nor respond to messages.”

The Nigerian doctor said he had been in prison ever since, with no progress or release date in sight.

“My health has been affected and no one to assist me as I do not know anyone in the community and even Saudi as a whole. I am pleading for the Nigerian government to intercede on my behalf so I can have a quick resolution to this matter and attend to my health,” Ighowho writes.

“I am frustrated with the situation, as I am deteriorating physically and mentally in the cell.”

FIJ sent a mail to the Nigerian consulate in Jeddah for comments on the matter but it had not been responded to at press time.

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