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MESA, AZ - The Arizona Medical Board has suspended a Mesa doctor's license while he is being investigated for two counts of sexual abuse.
Mesa Police first arrested Dr. Gabriel Ogbonnaya on June 9th, after two patients reported the 43 year old Internal Medicine doctor touched them inappropriately.
The Board's order stops Ogbonnaya from practicing medicine until the board's investigation in complete and there is a resolution to the case.
According to a press release the Board believes that the physician may pose an imminent danger to the public.
After his arrest, Dr. Ogbonnaya's attorney dispatched a news release expressing criticism of how Mesa Police have handled the investigation.
Melissa Wallingsford of Buescher Law Offices wrote, "Mesa Police spokesman, Detective Steve Berry has confirmed that “We’re still in the
early stages of investigation. We’re going to interview all of the people that need to be interviewed and go from there.” In response, Attorney Buescher asks, “shouldn’t this have been done PRIOR TO Dr. Ogbonnaya’s very public arrest at his office by Ms. Kessler who has a sworn duty to the public to investigate allegations before an arrest is made. Mesa Police claim that they can arrest someone on “probable cause.” Ms. Kessler was granted the authority by the Mesa Police Department and while knowingly in control of Dr.
Ogbonnaya’s reputation, career and livelihood proceeded to publically arrest Dr. Ogbonnaya based on two questionable statements. Upon her sole discretion and actions, Ms. Kessler succeeded in nothing more than destroying a man’s life, career and family. Mesa Police Department continue to contradict themselves as Detective Berry informed the press and public that the December 2009 allegation was never acted upon because the
“victim” did not want to cooperate with prosecution. That’s not what Ms. Kessler told me Wednesday afternoon in the lobby of the Mesa Police station. When asked specifically why charges were not brought last December if indeed a violation of the law did occur, her response was “I don’t know. It wasn’t my case then; I just got it this morning.” If the Mesa Police
Department can’t get their story straight, how can we trust that they can determine “probable cause”? To date, not a single witness who was present when these events allegedly took place has been interviewed.
Furthermore, the release of information that has occurred thus far has essentially provided a blueprint to anyone wanting their 15 minutes of fame at Dr. Ogbonnaya’s expense."
She added that she believes her client will be "exonerated" but said unfortunately due to the charges the damage is already done, "in the meantime, however, his entire life, reputation and career have been jeopardized due to the utter lack of due diligence by Officer Kessler and the Mesa Police Department."
Wallingsford then shared a little be about the doctor, "Even on his death bed, Gabriel Ogbonnaya's father could not get one thought out of his head:
"My son is going to be a doctor." These were among the last words Ogbonnaya's father told his then-12-year-old son before he died, leaving his wife alone to raise six children. Driven by his father's words and disgust over the terrible healthcare conditions he saw in Nigeria, Dr Ogbonnaya has fulfilled his father's prophecy and his own dream of opening a practice in the
United States. A devout Christian, Gabriel U. Ogbonnaya, MD, MHA is Board Certified in Internal medicine. He received his medical training from the University of Nigeria. He graduated in 1991 as the Best Student of the Faculty of Medical Sciences and Dentistry and as the Best Student of the
Department of Internal Medicine. He had his postgraduate Internal Medicine residency training at Interfaith Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York. During residency, Dr. Ogbonnaya maintained the best record in the ACP-ASIM National Internal Medicine In-Training Examinations, ranking
consistently in the top 3% nationally. He passed the American Board of Internal Medicine certification examination at the top 10% and in 2006 he graduated from the University of Phoenix with a Masters in Health Administration."
Police say they had gone to Ogbonnaya for medical services at his office located near Ellsworth and Guadalupe roads in Mesa. In each case the reason for the visit in no way required the doctor to examine or touch their breasts or vaginal areas, police say.
Authorities say the first victim reported that when Ogbonnaya came into the room he placed his forehead against hers and began rubbing her neck and the top of her breasts. He allegedly moved his hands lower and commented that she should "have more sex" as he was tapping her vaginal area over her clothing.
According to court documents, Ogbonnaya told the woman "she needs a new boyfriend" even though the victim is married. He reportedly offered to pick the victim up to go jogging.
Police say the second victim reported nearly the same type of contact with Ogbonnaya, saying that
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