A Call for Justice

My sister, Blessing Okolie, is dead—and we believe medical negligence led to her death.

A tragic case of alleged medical negligence has emerged in Lagos, demanding urgent attention from regulatory authorities, human rights organisations, and the Nigerian public.

This is a call for accountability and justice for Blessing Okolie, whose life was lost under circumstances that raise serious concerns about professional conduct and patient safety.

The Allegations

According to a firsthand account from a family member, Blessing Okolie underwent surgery on March 28, 2026, at OAR Medical Centre, Ilepo, Abule Egba, Lagos, under the care of Dr Abiodun Ojifinn.

“Five hours after the surgery on March 28, she was reportedly given milk and Milo despite the family’s objections. Furthermore, approximately six hours post-surgery, Blessing was made to walk from downstairs to upstairs due to the hospital’s lack of stretchers. The ward is located upstairs, while the operating theatre is downstairs.”

Following the operation, she reportedly experienced persistent and severe pain, accompanied by continuous abdominal swelling and side pain. Repeated requests by the family for diagnostic tests, including a scan, were allegedly ignored by the doctor. Instead, concerns were reportedly dismissed by hospital staff.

Eleven days later, when a scan was eventually conducted at an external facility, a shocking discovery was made: a surgical instrument—a pair of scissors—had allegedly been left inside her body.

“The family member began requesting a scan for Blessing three days after the surgery, but the hospital reportedly dismissed her concerns and asked if she was trying to teach them their job.”

“Had the doctor acted on the family’s repeated requests for a scan, which they began requesting on March 31, the issue might have been detected earlier, and Blessing’s life might have been saved. The prolonged presence of a foreign object in her body for eleven days is alleged to have caused widespread complications affecting multiple organs.”

Second Surgery Under Questionable Conditions on 7th April 2026

Despite her deteriorating condition and increasing weakness, the hospital reportedly proceeded with a second surgery on April 7, 2026, ignoring the family’s request to transfer her to another hospital with experts to remove the object, because Blessing was already weak and had not eaten or drank water for the past 5days, but Oar Medical Centre assured them she would be fine, with Dr Abiodiu missing in action.

The family states that:

• Requests for referral to a better-equipped facility were denied.
• Blessing’s condition worsened after the second operation, with ongoing swelling and complications.
• Communication from medical staff was inconsistent, and critical concerns were not adequately addressed.

Critical Failures and Emergency Transfer

On April 11, 2026, the situation reportedly escalated further:

• The hospital allegedly ran out of fuel while Blessing was on oxygen support.
• A referral was only issued after sustained pressure from the family, despite earlier pleas.
• The family claims they were told to wait until morning for power restoration, despite the emergency. But they refuse, and Oar Medical Centre sends them out at about 3 am, midnight without a medical doctor, no nurse or ambulance, but intended to remove the drip on her, which is giving her energy after removing the one on her nose, but the family fought to stop the removal.

She was eventually transported at approximately 3:00 a.m. by a family member—without medical personnel—to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), where she was admitted into intensive care.

Tragically, within 24 hours of admission, Blessing Okolie passed away.

Medical Findings and Additional Concerns

At LASUTH, further evaluation reportedly indicated that Blessing was suffering from a severe bacterial infection and sepsis—a life-threatening condition often resulting from untreated infection.

A family member also raised serious concerns about hygiene and care standards at the initial facility, alleging that:

• Proper patient records were not maintained.
• Medical staff did not consistently use gloves during treatment.
• Her surgical wound was left improperly managed, but open in the days leading up to her transfer.

Key Concerns Raised

This case presents serious allegations, including:

• Gross medical negligence
• Failure to provide a timely diagnosis and referral
• Possible surgical error (retained instrument)
• Poor post-operative care and decision-making
• Lack of emergency preparedness
• Apparent abandonment of patient care

The family also alleges that the attending doctor was absent for several days during a critical period of care.

Call to Action

We call on the following bodies to urgently investigate this matter:

• Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN)
• Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria
• Lagos State Ministry of Health
• National Human Rights Commission
• Civil society organisations and healthcare advocacy groups
• Nigerian Medical Association

Why This Matters

If these allegations are proven, this is not just a personal tragedy—it is a serious public safety issue. No patient should lose their life due to preventable medical errors or systemic negligence.

Healthcare providers must be held to the highest standards of care, transparency, and accountability.

Justice for Blessing

The family of Blessing Okolie is demanding:

• A full and independent investigation
• Accountability for all responsible parties
• Concrete measures to prevent similar incidents

Justice for Blessing Okolie is not only about one life—it is about protecting every Nigerian who seeks care, trusting they will be treated with professionalism, dignity, and safety.