By Benue Info-pedia Editorial Desk 

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Benue State Branch, has clarified that Jonah Otumala Ogbaji is not a medical doctor or a member of the association, following recent reports that identified him as a doctor and Medical Director of Multicare Hospital in Makurdi.

In a press release dated September 25, 2026, and signed by the NMA Benue Chairman, Dr. Fanen Dogoh; Secretary, Dr. Mark A.C. Ogbodo; and Public Relations Officer, Dr. Bernard Audu, the association said Ogbaji does not hold the professional status of a medical doctor.

The NMA said the use of the title “Dr.”, ownership or management of a healthcare facility, and participation in health-related activities do not, by themselves, establish that an individual is a medical doctor.

According to the association, practising medicine in Nigeria requires recognised medical training, registration with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), completion of the prescribed professional requirements and a valid practising licence.

The MDCN similarly states that medical practitioners must be appropriately registered and licensed to practise, with annual practising requirements applying to registered practitioners.

The NMA urged journalists, government agencies, healthcare institutions and members of the public to verify professional credentials before describing individuals as medical doctors.

Why the clarification matters

The statement comes shortly after reports concerning Ogbaji's removal from Multicare Hospital along Ankpa Road, Makurdi, on September 23.
Initial reports described the incident as an alleged abduction. The Benue State Police Command subsequently clarified that Ogbaji was arrested by operatives of the Special Tactical Squad attached to the Force Intelligence Department, Abuja, in connection with an ongoing investigation. Police said the specific circumstances of the investigation were not yet known to the command.

Several reports published before the police clarification had described Ogbaji as a medical doctor or Medical Director. The NMA's subsequent statement therefore introduces a separate issue requiring public clarification: the professional credentials of individuals presented to the public as medical practitioners.

Benue Info-pedia has not independently established Ogbaji's registration status with the MDCN beyond the position contained in the NMA's September 25 statement. The platform has also not independently established the circumstances of the ongoing police investigation beyond the police confirmation that an arrest occurred.

The distinction is important. Professional status, ownership or management of a healthcare facility, and the circumstances of an arrest are separate matters and should not be conflated.

For patients and the wider public, the development also highlights the importance of checking professional credentials when seeking medical care. The MDCN provides regulatory information and requirements relating to registration and practising licences.

Benue Info-pedia will continue to monitor the matter and seek verification from the relevant regulatory and security authorities as further information becomes available.

The next questions include whether publicly accessible mechanisms can make verification of medical credentials easier for patients, how healthcare facilities ensure that practitioners are properly licensed, and what regulatory bodies do when professional misrepresentation is alleged.

For now, the NMA's clarification provides an important correction to how Ogbaji has been described in recent reports, while the details of the police investigation remain undisclosed.