A Federal High Court in Abuja has declared the suspension of Dr. Kenenna Obiatuegwu by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) null and void. The court ruled that the suspension was made in disregard of a court proceeding and therefore illegal. Dr. Obiatuegwu had been suspended by the NMA for taking the association to court over an internal dispute. The court held that the complainant has the right to approach the court to address his grievances and ordered the defendants to retract the publication and issue a written apology. However, the court denied the claimant's request for damages [5fee1464].
Dr. Obiatuegwu had filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutional flaws that disenfranchised medical practitioners from participating in the election of national officers of the NMA. The NMA suspended him while the lawsuit was pending. The claimant's counsel argued that the NMA's actions were a flagrant disregard and abuse of the court [5fee1464].