The communiqué was copied to the President of NARD, the leader of the South-South Caucus of NARD, the Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association in Cross River State, and the Department of State Services.
By TheInvestigator
The Association of Resident Doctors, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (ARD-UCTH), has referred its immediate past President, Dr Ogar Emmanuel Idoko, to its Disciplinary Committee over alleged financial misconduct involving the association’s Polaris Bank account in Calabar.
The decision was taken at an Emergency General Meeting held virtually on Thursday, September 17, 2026. The meeting followed a petition by a former president, Dr Antigha Cobham, who raised concerns about alleged unauthorised transactions and the former administration’s continued operation of the account after handover.
In a communiqué dated September 18, 2026, and signed by the incumbent President, Dr Ofem Ofem Ikpi, and the General Secretary, Dr Essien Kingsley Antigha, the congress described the allegations as weighty and potentially criminal if established. It directed the Disciplinary Committee to conduct a fact-finding exercise and report to members within 14 days, in line with the association’s bye-laws.
Withdrawals Halted
The meeting also ordered an immediate halt to all withdrawals from the account to prevent further questionable transactions while investigations continue. It directed that the incumbent president and other designated officers be made signatories, and that the account be closed if this proves impossible.
Bank Statement
The resolutions followed a review of a bank statement reportedly obtained from Polaris Bank after Dr Cobham invoked the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, in his petition to the association’s leadership. According to the communiqué, the statement showed multiple transactions in favour of Dr Idoko and other organisations, prompting members to demand a comprehensive investigation.
Members also raised concerns over deductions meant for the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors’ (NARD) September Annual General Meeting. These were reportedly paid into the Polaris Bank account instead of the association’s Zenith Bank account, as initially directed.
The congress ordered that all available information on the transactions and the identities of the purported signatories be obtained without delay. It added that if investigations establish collusion between bank staff and any association officer to defraud the association, relevant financial crimes enforcement agencies should be engaged to recover any funds wrongfully withdrawn.
The Petition
In his September 11 petition, Dr Cobham alleged that the immediate past president continued to sign cheques and authorise withdrawals after the five working days the bye-laws allow for changing signatories following a change of administration. He cited the bye-law provisions on signing cheques and financial instruments, the supremacy of the bye-laws, and the oath of office requiring officers to uphold the association’s governing rules.
He asked the leadership to obtain a comprehensive statement of account, remove the former signatories from the mandate, impose a no-debit restriction pending regularisation of the signatories, and convene an emergency meeting. He said the petition was intended to promote transparency, protect the association’s finances and safeguard its reputation.
The communiqué did not announce a formal suspension of Dr Idoko. It directed only his referral to the Disciplinary Committee for investigation. The association expressed confidence that the committee would carry out its assignment in line with the bye-laws and report within the stipulated period.
The communiqué was copied to the President of NARD, the leader of the South-South Caucus of NARD, the Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association in Cross River State, and the Department of State Services.
