Brandon Harder
Regina Leader-Post
A professional discipline hearing to determine whether a doctor who once practiced in Regina is guilty of professional misconduct, including sexual assault, has been postponed.
In March of 2022, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS) brought seven misconduct charges against Dr. Imafidon Thomas Izekor.
In May of that year, CPSS informed the Leader-Post that it believed Izekor was not in the country at the time. That belief remained as of the end of June 2024, though the CPSS did not have independent confirmation.
Nonetheless, preparations were made to hold a hearing, which was meant to begin Monday.
Late Friday afternoon, the Leader-Post received a response from CPSS associate registrar Bryan Salte regarding the status of the hearing.
He indicated that Izekor had requested an adjournment, as he’d changed representation and there wasn’t sufficient time for the new lawyer to prepare.
“That adjournment request was opposed by legal counsel for the College of Physicians and Surgeons,” Salte wrote in an email.
However, he went on to state that the CPSS discipline committee ordered the adjournment.
“We are working on arranging new hearing dates,” wrote Salte, who indicated he is not acting as counsel for CPSS on the file, but his understanding is that “a new hearing date will likely be in the spring of 2025.”
The charges brought against Izekor by CPSS, which regulates the practice of medicine in the province, are not charges under the Criminal Code of Canada and they have not been proven.
The charges alleging sexual assault are not dated, but the alleged victims are both said to have been female employees who worked at a medical clinic that Izekor “formerly owned and practiced in.” The timelines during which these employees worked at said clinic have been redacted.
CPSS documents allege Izekor invited one employee to his home where he “touched her sexually and despite her protests engaged in sexual intercourse with her.”
“Afterwards, you gave her money and said something similar to, ‘You helped me and I will help you,’” said documents outlining the charges.
Regarding the second allegation of sexual assault, the college’s documents state evidence will be led to show Izekor made sexual advances toward the employee and threatened her should she not comply.
Specifics of the threat are not given.
“You took her to a bedroom and sexually assaulted her despite her protests and requests that you stop,” the documents read.
It’s alleged Izekor committed further sexual assaults on the employee, including in his office and in his basement.
He’s also alleged to have made comments toward three patients, forming the basis of charges that he “engaged in sexual impropriety and failed to maintain appropriate professional boundaries.”
One of these patients was a minor, according to the charge documents.
The documents make further allegations, not all of which are mentioned in this article, including that he arranged work for people not legally eligible for employment in Canada, paying them cash.
Further, it is alleged he “acted as a registered immigration sponsor for several staff members and then used that relationship to influence behaviour.”
While Izekor is still listed on the CPSS website as being “on the register,” his licence status is currently listed as “inactive.”
When the professional charges were brought against the doctor, the Leader-Post attempted to contact him for comment through his lawyer and by telephone at the practice then listed on the college website.
No response was ever received.
