Almost two months after Dr. John Mabayoje was detained – and then released – by the Nigerian Customs Service on false weapon importation charges, the US-based physician has yet to have his international passport returned. Following his inability to return to his post in the US, Dr. Mabayoje – who is an internist – has lost his job. Owing to his loss of income, the physician has also been forced to abandon further construction work on his American-style hospital in Oyo.
Dr. Mabayoje’s Nigerian host, Mr. Olufemi Ajanaku, is also yet to retrieve his passport from Nigerian officials, according to investigations by Saharareporters.
After Dr. Mabayoje’s release from illegal detention, the office of the National Security Adviser set up a multi-security panel to look into the “allegations” that the medical doctor had imported weapons in a 40-foot container. The 8-member panel found no credible evidence to back up the hoopla about weapons’ importation. Unscrupulous Customs officials had sold the false alarm to the British Broadcasting Corporation, which aired it.
A legal source told our correspondent that the federal government panel was illegal “since the office of the NSA is not constitutionally empowered to investigate matters of this nature.”
Despite his 17-day detention, Dr. Mabayoje was never charged with any crime. The “weapons” he was accused of importing turned out to be home and construction equipment meant mostly for the hospital he was building in Oyo state.
A source from his family told Saharareporters that the doctor “faces serious health troubles as he has run of prescription medicine he needs.”
Nigeria’s loss may turn out to be South Africa’s gain, according to a source close to Dr. Mabayoje. The source stated that two Southern Africa nations have offered Dr. Mabayoje land and game permits to enable him to build his hospital there.
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