Deptford Lewisham Labour Councillor hit by Scandle over Honesty and Integrity & calls to resign just days in the job

New Deptford councillor suspended from nursing over 'integrity and honesty' allegations

3:35pm Monday 15th April 2013 in News Exclusive By Sarah Trotter

Olufunke Abidoye with fellow Labour councillors after her election last month

THERE is a call for Lewisham’s newest Labour councillor to stand down after serious allegations of midwifery misconduct emerged.
Councillor Olufunke Abidoye was elected to represent Deptford’s Evelyn ward last month in spite of having been suspended from her nursing and midwife duties in October last year, News Shopper can reveal.
Her “integrity” and “honesty” are two qualities being investigated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) who deemed she should be suspended for 18 months for public protection.

Yet it was claimed she was still a nurse in the run-up to her by-election victory – which came after Labour’s serial absentee councillor Joseph Folorunso jumped before he was pushed from his post.
Leader of Lewisham Lib Dems Councillor Chris Maines said: “It seems that the suspension is for public protection reasons and you would think the Labour party would have found a candidate that wasn’t in this rather difficult position at the moment.
“I would imagine decisions to suspend a midwife are not taken lightly and 18 months suggests a series of serious issues.
“I wouldn’t want to pre-judge anybody but I think it would be in her personal interest and those of her residents to concentrate on clearing her name and that would mean standing down.”

Mrs Abidoye, who was a midwife at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Trust, has been suspended while various unspecified allegations are looked into - she will either be formally charged or cleared pending the investigation.
The NMC Interim Order Hearing document reads: “The panel was informed that these are serious allegations that if found proved, could bring into question your honesty, integrity and competency.
“The panel considered that these are serious allegations which raise potential concerns about patient safety.
“The panel is of the view that based on the information before it there is a real possibility of repetition for the alleged behaviour and that this could put patients at risk of harm.”
Cllr Maines says the qualities under scrutiny are essential for a councillor and criticised the transparency of the Labour party in not making her position clear.
He said: “You would have thought they [the qualities] were a pre-requisite of the job.
“I think it is essential than anyone that seeks public office is open and transparent about their personal circumstances.
“They [Labour] obviously didn’t tell people that they were voting for someone who has been suspended. They claimed she was a midwife and nurse.”
When News Shopper contacted Mrs Abidoye for a comment on the issue she said, “I am sorry, I am not speaking on the phone,” and hung up.
The mother-of-four claimed more than more than 50 per cent of the votes in the polls held late last month – gaining 978 votes out of a total 1751.
Her predecessor Joseph Folorunso would have faced dismissal for not showing at council meetings for almost six months had he not stepped down to continue running an orphanage in Togo.
News Shopper previously reported how Mrs Abidoye’s election prompted claims of a Nigerian “ethnic mafia” dominating Evelyn ward from rival party People Before Profit’s campaigner John Hamilton.
- News Shopper is awaiting a response from Lewisham Labour.
Barbara Raymond standing as Lewisham People Before Profit secured more votes than Lib Dem, Tory and UKIP combined and secured the best ever result for PBP. Should as expected a By Election be called. People Before Profit are clearly placed to win, as all there candidates are well known Community activists who get things done in Barbara they have a trusted and hugely popular life long Deptford Community Activist.

The Labour Party have issued a statement of Support for the newly elected Councillor saying they do not wish to prejudge the present investigation.
This makes it even more alarming, as it leads to the Centre of the Labour Leadership, were they aware? why was it kept secret? in light of the fact all Councillors by law have to sign a statement about code of conduct it is clearly at odds with the massive investigation under way which would not have been taken lightly, and having seen some of the aligations under investigation they are truly shocking.. By  the Labour Party refusing to suspend her from the Labour group, this could drag on until next March, whilst the investigation could report back well before March forcing a fresh by election and causing very real problems for the Labour party.
By allowing this Councillor to remain a Labour Councillor they are bringing  into question the integrity of Councillors across the political spectrum who work hard for the people they are elected to serve.

You can keep up to date by Following twitter@Raywoolford

Labour Party have de selected the Councillor for Evelyn Ward after huge public pressure lead by people Before profit, Barbara Raymond came a clear second  on 24% to Labour at the By Election and the party is expected to win these seats in next Mays local elections.

R