International

More punishment for UK-based Nigerian doctor accused of having s€x with patient

Published

2 years ago

April 12, 2024

More punishment for UK-based Nigerian doctor accused of having s€x with patient

A Nigerian doctor in the United Kingdom, UK, Ewere Onykpe, accused of having sex with a patient in a hospital’s toilet cubicle, has been suspended for an additional six months.

According to a report by Premium Times, Onyikpe is said to have begun a sexual relationship with the woman while employed as a locum registrar at the Whittington Hospital, London.

The online newspaper earlier reported in 2023 how the Medical Practitioners Tribunal of the General Medical Council (MPT of the GMC) – a medical regulatory body in the UK, imposed a sanction of a six-month suspension on the suspect’s practising licence after he was found guilty by an investigative tribunal.

Having completed the six-month suspension, the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) appealed against the MPT’s decision before a UK court on the ground that it failed to take into account the vulnerability of the patient within the allegation.

However, a tribunal hearing in February reconsidered the case. It determined that Mr Onyekpe’s registration should be suspended for 12 months having been found guilty of misconduct which was later reduced to six months to reflect the suspension already served.

The details of the case and decisions of the tribunal chaired by Tanveer Rakhim are highlighted in a 61-page document exclusively obtained by PREMIUM TIMES after the hearing held from 12 February to 29 February.

How it happened
The tribunal heard that the suspect, a Nigerian-born medical doctor, examined the patient after she was brought to the Whittington Hospital’s Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department by ambulance on 5 June 2020.

He made a diagnosis of sciatica and prescribed pain-killing medication for her and had an “intimate examination” which was considered to be appropriate.

It was Mr Onyekpe’s “unchallenged evidence” that before the patient left the hospital, she gave him her telephone number on a piece of paper saying ‘in case you want to be friends or anything’.

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Mr Onyikpe allegedly sent the patient a WhatsApp message an hour after she was discharged from A&E and the pair exchanged messages over the coming days.

On 10 June, she was brought back to Whittington’s emergency department where she exchanged messages with the doctor for three-and-a-half hours which became “personal and highly sexualised.”

The pair allegedly had consensual sexual intercourse in the hospital’s toilet cubicle that same day, the tribunal heard. The next day, Mr Onyekpe went to the patient’s home and again had consensual sex with her.

The tribunal further heard that the pair continued to exchange sexual messages, interspersed with medical advice from Mr Onyekpe, until 24 July 2020.

On 3 August 2020, Mr Onyekpe was arrested on suspicion of raping the patient but the police released him without charge, after which GMC found out about the facts of his arrest.

Demands for erasure from medical records
The representative of the medical regulatory body, Rosalind Emsley-Smith, submitted at the tribunal that the appropriate and proportionate sanction in this case was one of erasure.

Ms Emsley-Smith stated that Mr Onyekpe had admitted the majority of the allegations he faced before the tribunal and the totality of the allegations he had faced before a previous tribunal.

About the aggravating factors of the case, Ms Emsley-Smith submitted that Mr Onyekpe used his position as a doctor to pursue a sexual and improper emotional relationship with the “vulnerable” patient.

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Ms Emsley-Smith submitted that the only way to remedy the damage to the reputation of the profession, which she said had occurred as a consequence of Mr Onyekpe’s decisions and conduct, would be to erase his name from the medical register.

However, in his defence, the doctor’s representative, James Counsell, submitted that Mr Onykpe accepts responsibility for his misconduct, reminding the tribunal that it occurred nearly four years ago.

Mr Counsell submitted that Mr Onykpe has always acknowledged that “his behaviour transgressed professional boundaries and that he had let everybody down, including himself, his family and his colleagues.”

He stated that Mr Onyekpe was a family man with a supportive wife and referred to the various testimonials that spoke of him as a man with integrity.

Mr Counsell stated that the GMC accepted that the relationship was entirely consensual. He referred to the rape allegation and Mr Onyekpe’s arrest in the presence of his wife, as well as the investigation by the GMC and the Trust, and how he cooperated with the entire process.

After the submissions, the tribunal concluded that Mr Onykpe’s conduct, spanning seven weeks, demonstrated a failure to prioritise the care of the patient, “who was vulnerable at all material times.”

Tribunal’s decision, conclusion
The tribunal concluded that the misconduct was adequately addressed with the substantive suspension, adding that it is not necessary to impose an immediate order of suspension on Mr Onyekpe’s registration.

“This means that Mr Onykpe’s registration will be suspended from the medical register 28 days from the date on which written notification of this decision is deemed to have been served unless he lodges an appeal,” the tribunal noted.

“If Mr Onykpe does lodge an appeal he will remain free to practice unrestricted until the outcome of any appeal is known.

“For the same reasons, the tribunal also determined to revoke the interim order of conditions with immediate effect.”

More punishment for UK-based Nigerian doctor accused of having s€x with patient

(PREMIUM TIMES)

Related Topics:Nigerian Doctor patient UK

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Anti-Apartheid Lawyer Navi Pillay Wins 2026 Nobel Peace Prize After Gaza Genocide Findings

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October 9, 2026

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South African jurist and human rights advocate Navi Pillay

Anti-Apartheid Lawyer Navi Pillay Wins 2026 Nobel Peace Prize After Gaza Genocide Findings

South African jurist and human rights advocate Navi Pillay, who fought apartheid and led a United Nations inquiry that concluded Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, has won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote peace and international law.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the award on Friday, October 9, recognising Pillay’s decades-long work to strengthen international justice and ensure accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

Pillay, 85, is a former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and a former judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC). She also served as a judge and president of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, which prosecuted those responsible for crimes committed during the 1994 genocide.

The Nobel Committee praised her courage, integrity and contribution to developing a stronger international legal order at a time when institutions responsible for upholding international law face increasing political pressure.

Born into a family of Indian Tamil descent in Durban, South Africa, during the apartheid era, Pillay built her legal career challenging racial discrimination and defending political activists. Her early work included defending anti-apartheid figures, including Nelson Mandela and others who opposed the system of racial segregation.

She later became one of South Africa’s pioneering female jurists, serving on the country’s High Court after apartheid ended.

Pillay’s international career included serving as a judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda from 1999 to 2003, where she contributed to landmark developments in international criminal law, particularly the recognition of rape and sexual violence as potential crimes against humanity and acts of genocide.

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She subsequently served as a judge at the ICC and as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2008 to 2014.

More recently, Pillay chaired the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which published findings in 2025 concluding that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The Israeli government strongly rejected the report and its conclusions.

Pillay has continued to defend the importance of accountability under international law. She has also stressed the need to address violations committed by all parties to conflicts, including crimes attributed to Hamas during its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

Reacting to the Nobel announcement, Pillay reiterated her position on Gaza, saying the situation amounted to genocide. Her comments came amid continuing international debate over the conflict and the legal responsibilities of the parties involved.

The Nobel Committee’s decision recognises Pillay’s broader career and does not itself constitute a judicial ruling on whether genocide has occurred in Gaza. The committee cited her contribution to international law and the prosecution of serious international crimes as central reasons for the award.

Pillay is also serving as an ad hoc judge at the International Court of Justice in the genocide case brought by The Gambia against Myanmar over the treatment of the Rohingya.

Her award makes her the fifth South African to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, following Albert Luthuli, Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela and former president FW de Klerk.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomed the announcement, describing the honour as recognition of Pillay’s courage, integrity and lifelong commitment to justice and human dignity.

The 2026 award comes as international legal institutions face mounting scrutiny and political pressure over their efforts to investigate alleged war crimes and hold individuals and governments accountable.

By recognising Pillay, the Nobel Committee has placed renewed emphasis on the role of international law, independent courts and human rights protections in efforts to prevent violence and build lasting peace.

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UK Navy Sailor Charged Over Alleged Plot to Leak Intelligence to Russia

Published

11 hours ago

October 9, 2026

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UK Navy Sailor Charged Over Alleged Plot to Leak Intelligence to Russia

A 24-year-old British Royal Navy sailor has been charged with national security offences over an alleged plot to obtain sensitive military intelligence and pass protected information to Russia, raising fresh concerns about the security of classified defence information.

The suspect, Teddy Young, appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Thursday, October 8, where the allegations against him were outlined.

According to British authorities, Young faces two charges under the National Security Act 2023 relating to the alleged retention of protected information and preparations to disclose sensitive material for the benefit of a foreign power.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) alleged that Young accessed and retained sensitive United Kingdom defence and intelligence information while serving as a Royal Navy warfare intelligence rating with high-level security clearance and access to intelligence systems.

Prosecutors said the alleged offences occurred between November 2024 and May 2025, during his first deployment, which began on November 4, 2024.

The allegations include obtaining, copying, recording or retaining protected information with the intention of benefiting a foreign power, as well as engaging in conduct in preparation for disclosing the material.

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Although the charges identify an unnamed foreign power, British media reports have identified Russia as the country Young allegedly sought to assist.

Investigators reportedly suspect that Young used the dark web to explore ways of contacting Russian authorities. He is also alleged to have drafted a message in Russian intended to establish contact with a potential recipient of the sensitive information.

Reports further alleged that he copied information to a private email account, in breach of Navy rules.

Young joined the Royal Navy in April 2024 and was serving in a warfare intelligence role when the alleged offences took place.

He was first arrested on May 21, 2025, and subsequently released on bail while investigations continued. His security clearance was suspended, and he was removed from his duties.

Counterterrorism police arrested him again at his home in Bedfordshire on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, before charging him with the offences.

During Thursday’s brief court hearing, Young was not asked to enter a plea because the seriousness of the charges meant the case could not be dealt with at the magistrates’ court.

District Judge Annabel Pilling ordered that he remain in custody pending his next appearance at the Central Criminal Court, commonly known as the Old Bailey, on October 16.

The Royal Navy confirmed that a serving member had been charged following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing London.

The Navy declined to comment further, citing the ongoing legal proceedings.

British authorities also stressed that the investigation was separate from a recent security incident involving suspicious vehicles near RAF Fairford, a military airbase in Gloucestershire.

The case comes amid continuing concerns among Western governments about espionage, the protection of sensitive military information and attempts by foreign powers to obtain intelligence relating to national security.

However, the allegations against Young remain unproven, and any determination of his criminal responsibility will be made through the judicial process.

UK Navy Sailor Charged Over Alleged Plot to Leak Intelligence to Russia

International

Russian Bomb Kills 33 in Ukraine, Hits Two Passenger Buses

Published

1 day ago

October 8, 2026

Trends Admin

Russian Bomb Kills 33 in Ukraine, Hits Two Passenger Buses

At least 33 people have been killed and 18 others injured after a Russian guided bomb struck a road in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, hitting two passenger buses in one of the deadliest attacks on civilians reported in the country this year.

The attack occurred at about 10am in the Donetsk region, where two scheduled buses were operating when the Russian munition struck the road.

The blast triggered fires in the buses and surrounding area, leaving passengers and other civilians dead or injured. Emergency workers were deployed to the scene to extinguish the fires, recover victims and evacuate the wounded.

The death toll rose from an initial figure of 12 as rescuers continued their search of the area.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the weapon may have been a UMPB D-30SN guided aerial bomb, although authorities said investigations were continuing to establish the exact type of munition used.

Images from the scene showed a badly burned bus, debris scattered across the road and bodies lying near the site of the explosion.

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Russia has not immediately commented on the attack or the reported casualty figures. Moscow has consistently denied deliberately targeting civilians during its war against Ukraine.

Authorities suspended public transportation in Kramatorsk and neighbouring Sloviansk following the attack as a precaution against further strikes.

Kramatorsk, an important Ukrainian-controlled city in the Donetsk region, has faced repeated Russian drone and guided-bomb attacks as fighting intensifies along the eastern front.

The latest attack came a day after another deadly Russian strike on Pryluky, in Ukraine’s Chernihiv region, where a missile hit a five-storey residential building.

The death toll in Pryluky rose to 22 people, including five children, while 54 others were injured. Several people were rescued from the damaged building as emergency crews continued search-and-rescue operations.

The attacks came amid an intensified Russian aerial campaign involving missiles, drones and guided bombs against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

Ukrainian authorities have appealed for stronger air-defence support from international partners as the country faces renewed attacks ahead of winter.

The latest strikes have also renewed concerns over the safety of civilians and critical infrastructure nearly five years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.