COVID-19: UITH suspends Senior Consultant, order probe of alleged misconduct

Following confirmation that the wife of a suspected patient (Alhaji Muideen Obanimomo, who died at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital on the 3rd of April, 2020) has tested positive for the coronavirus disease, the management of the hospital has announced the immediate suspension of Prof A.K Salami for alleged unethical conduct. 

“The Management of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital hereby suspends Prof A K Salami as a Senior Consultant in the hospital. This is as a result of his unethical conduct in the admission, management and eventual release of the corpse of a suspected COVID-19 patient who died in the hospital on the 3rd of April, 2020,” a statement by David Odaibo, the Director of Administration, reads.

This reporter gathered that a 10-man investigative panel has been set up to investigate the method of admission, management and release of the corpse of the suspected COVID-19 patient. 

There were allegations that Prof Salami concealed the health status and travel history of the deceased, which made the caregivers attend to him without the necessary precautions and at the risk of mass exposure. 

The investigative panel headed by Prof E.O Afolayan will examine the patient’s relative involvement among other issues and make recommendations to the management.