Court dismisses stay of execution bid by Enugu hospital MD

From Godwin Tsa, Abuja

The National Industrial Court, Abuja has dismissed a stay of execution application filed by Dr. Ngozi Unaogu, Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, against a judgment that removed her from office and ordered the immediate reinstatement of Prof. Monday Igwe to complete his tenure.

In the judgment sought to be stayed, Justice Emmanuel Subilim declared unlawful, null and void the purported termination of Prof. Igwe’s appointment.

The court held that the evidence before it showed that the claimant still had about three years and five months remaining before the expiration of his tenure and had successfully proved his case against all the defendants in suit No. NICN/ABJ/130/2024.

Dissatisfied with the judgment, Dr. Unaogu, through a motion marked NICN/ABJ/23M/2026, asked the court to stay execution of the judgment pending the hearing and determination of her appeal.

Other applicants in the motion included the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu.

However, in his ruling, Justice Subilim dismissed the application, holding that the applicants failed to establish any special, exceptional or compelling circumstances to warrant the exercise of the court’s discretion in their favour.

Although the ruling was delivered on July 9, 2026, its Certified True Copy (CTC) was sighted on July 16, 2026.

Part of the ruling read: “The application is incompetent, contemptuous, and a blatant attempt to run out the clock on the respondent’s reinstatement. On the whole, the application for stay of execution is hereby dismissed, and a cost of N500,000 is awarded against the applicants.”

Reacting to the ruling, counsel to Prof. Igwe, Michael Okorie, said the dismissal means that all official actions taken by Dr. Unaogu since December 11, 2025, when the original judgment was delivered, including the issuance of appointment letters and the award of contracts, are null and void.

He warned members of the public to be cautious in dealing with Dr. Unaogu to avoid the legal consequences of transactions that could ultimately be declared invalid.

Okorie added that the dismissal of the stay application means the judgment remains valid, binding and enforceable.

He said the development now requires President Bola Tinubu to direct the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare to immediately comply with the judgment in order to uphold the rule of law and prevent further deterioration of the situation at the public health institution.