metro
Trouble as four newborn babies die in Delta hospital
ANGRY patients and visitors protested, weekend, when four newborn babies suffered neonatal death, minutes after delivery at the Central General Hospital, Sapele, Delta State.
What caused the deaths of the children remains shrouded as sources revealed there was no electricity and one doctor allegedly reportedly drunk.
Sunday Vanguard learned the bereaved mothers gave birth last Thursday night/Friday morning and lost their babies in the labour ward.
Patients and visitors to the hospital, alleging negligence, took to protest in the premises, Friday morning, demanding that government intervenes and investigate the death of the infants.
A brother of one of the bereaved mothers, Mr Benjamin Ikeji, said his sister’s husband brought his pregnant wife to the hospital at about 5 pm on Thursday.
“When we brought her, the doctor told us my sister was not in labour yet and I waited till 10pm before going home. I called my sister this early morning, and she told me that the baby was stuck and the nurses told her they could do nothing since the doctor was not around”, Ikeji narrated.
READ ALSO:
- BREAKING: Seven-storey building collapses in Lagos, six trapped
- Sporadic gunshots mar Enugu PDP meeting
- Super Falcons trashed 4-0 by USA in friendly encounter
- FG dashes ASUU hope again, insists on no-work-no-pay policy
“And when I came this morning, I met the doctor who told me there was nothing she could do since there was no light.
“I bought fuel for them and the next thing I heard was that my sister’s baby was dead and all the babies delivered that night died”.
Mr Newton Oroba, who said his wife also lost her newborn after delivery at the labour ward in the hospital, same night, alleged the only doctor who was on duty that night was drunk.
“You could feel it from his breath when he came around 9pm, yesterday (Thursday), and when he left, he did not return”, Oroba stated.
He told Sunday Vanguard that when the nurses observed he was worried around 3pm, they told him they had called the doctor and he was not picking “only to tell me my baby was dead.”
A nurse, who craved anonymity, said the number of newborns said to have died was not true, adding, “Two died in their mothers’ wombs, while two infants died after delivery, it is not the doctor’s fault.”
Probed further on why the doctor was not around to attend to the women, the nurse kept mum.
Pandemonium broke out when, on sighting the said doctor in company of others, some patients and relatives of the bereaved confronted him, demanding an explanation for his absence that night.
Other medical workers on duty, on sensing danger, took to their heels while the doctor escaped into one room and locked himself up.
The management of the hospital, however, drafted the police and vigilante men at about 10pm to calm the protest, but, a lawyer invited by one of the bereaved husbands said they would not let the issue lie low without taking action against the management.
The development paralyzed activities on Friday morning with the hospital main gate firmly padlocked while they left patients in wards unattended to.
READ ALSO:
- Disqualify Peter Obi over Diaspora funding, Tinubu campaign group tells INEC
- Labour Party: Peter Obi not after foreign funds
- Jigawa Murderer: Killing My Parents An Act Of Jihad
46-year-old Onofekowho James, complained: “ Negligence has become a regular occurrence at the Sapele Central Hospital.”
Another patient told Sunday Vanguard they collected N20,000 from her before they could treat her, saying that most drugs meant to be distributed free were now being sold.
Her words: “When the former medical director was here, he did not not allow this rubbish, now we are facing rubbish. “
Noticing that journalists were making inquiries from patients, some doctors chased them out of the premises, threatening to beat up the reporters.
“We will break your camera and beat you up and nothing will happen”, one of the doctors said, pushing a journalist violently, while others hurled insult at them.
At the time of this report, one of the bereaved mothers hinted: “My lawyer has petitioned the hospital management for negligence, this I can assure you.”
She, however, turned down this reporter’s request to have her lawyer’s contact and get a copy of her petition.
The management of the hospital refused to comment on the matter while Delta State Commissioner for Health was also unreachable.
metro
Police bust Nigerian prostitution ring in Cyprus
Police bust Nigerian prostitution ring in Cyprus
Authorities are in the process of dismantling a Nigerian prostitution ring in Limassol, following the arrest of three women, in collaboration with the anti-trafficking unit, according to reports on Wednesday.
The case came to light last year when a woman filed a complaint, initially claiming she was a victim of theft.
However, during questioning, police grew suspicious that she was, in fact, a victim of sex trafficking. Further investigation confirmed this, and the woman was subsequently relocated to a safe house, police spokesman Christos Andreou stated.
READ ALSO:
- Lagos-Ibadan road: Mother of 4 dies from tanker fire burns
- BREAKING: Nigerian court convicts crypto firm for unlicensed USD-Naira trading
- BREAKING: President Tinubu reshuffles cabinet, merges ministries
The investigation was prolonged due to the victim’s limited information about her traffickers, Andreou explained.
Through coordinated police efforts, a 44-year-old woman was arrested on October 9, suspected of involvement in the trafficking operation.
Another woman was apprehended on October 18, followed by the arrest of a third woman, aged 33, on Tuesday.
Authorities are still searching for two men believed to be connected to the case.
Andreou added that police have gathered significant evidence and expect the case to be brought to court in the coming days.
Police bust Nigerian prostitution ring in Cyprus
metro
Lagos-Ibadan road: Mother of 4 dies from tanker fire burns
Lagos-Ibadan road: Mother of 4 dies from tanker fire burns
In a similar incident, a nursing mother was hospitalised after suffering serious injuries while trying to save her children from the flames.
The fire ignited when a petrol-laden tanker overturned near a commercial bank at midnight, reportedly due to the driver falling asleep at the wheel.
Eyewitnesses described how the vehicle lost control, leading to the explosion.
In the aftermath, the community experienced significant damage, with petrol spilling through drainage systems and impacting homes approximately a kilometer away from the expressway.
Many buildings suffered shattered windows, damaged roofs, and cracked walls.
READ ALSO:
Ismail Emmanuel, the husband of the deceased, recounted the harrowing events.
He explained that the smoke obstructed Mercy’s escape, and she inadvertently fell into a burning drainage as she tried to flee.
Despite urgent efforts to save her, Ismail faced a daunting demand for a N6 million deposit at the hospital, which he could not afford.
“I was at work when my son called about the fire,” he said. “He couldn’t find my wife, and after some time, he informed me they were heading to the hospital with her injuries.”
They moved from Sagamu to Abeokuta and finally to Igbobi Hospital in Lagos, but it was there that he learned of the hefty deposit required. Ultimately, they transferred her to Gbagada General Hospital, where she died.
Ismail has since placed his wife’s body in a private morgue and is seeking government assistance for his family.
Another resident, Bidemi, shared that a neighbour, known as Iya Ada, was also injured while attempting to rescue her children. Her home was severely damaged, losing furniture and other belongings to the fire.
“She fell and suffered burns on her side,” Bidemi reported, noting that Iya Ada is currently hospitalised.
Several other victims have called on Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, for support after losing vehicles that were crucial for their livelihoods.
The vehicles represented their only means of income and sustenance for their families.
In response, the governor has expressed his condolences to those affected and urged tanker drivers to be more cautious while on the road.
Lagos-Ibadan road: Mother of 4 dies from tanker fire burns
metro
BREAKING: Nigerian court convicts crypto firm for unlicensed USDT-Naira trading
BREAKING: Nigerian court convicts crypto firm for unlicensed USDT-Naira trading
A Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted a Nigerian crypto dealing company, Official Gredo Limited, for illegally conducting USDT to Naira transactions without a banking licence.
Justice Inyang Ekwo convicted Official Gredo on Wednesday in accordance with the company’s plea bargain arrangement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court ordered the forfeiture of N140 million held in the company’s account to the EFCC recovery account.
The sentencing in suit no: FHC/ABJ/CR/308/2024 followed a guilty plea by Nnamdi Okereke, the company’s director, when the amended money laundering charge was read to him.
At the arraignment on Wednesday, the company was accused of failing to report in writing to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) a single transfer of N76,462,500.00 paid from Renderstack Technologies Ltd into the Providus Bank Ltd account No. 5400608751 operated by Official Gredo, as specified under section 10(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
The company and Okereke among several firms and individuals were indicted by the EFCC for negotiating United States Dollar Tether (USDT) against the Naira with the public, despite not being an authorized dealer in the Nigeria Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market.
Okereke pleaded guilty to the one-count charge.
READ ALSO:
- BREAKING: President Tinubu reshuffles cabinet, merges ministries
- UPDATED- Court orders release of Gambaryan from Kuje Prison after FG drops charge
- Police arrest Enugu ritualist, father over death of son seeking protection
Subsequently, EFCC lawyer Martha Babatunde, Esq., and the defendant’s counsel, I.O. Offodili, urged the court to affirm the contents of the plea bargain as agreed by the parties.
According to the plea bargain, the defendant admitted committing the offenve and has restituted N140,000,000 to the EFCC, being part of the amount associated with the disputed transaction.
Passing his ruling, Ekwo convicted the company and affirmed the plea bargain agreement.
The judge stated that the plea bargain agreement between the complainant and the defendant should not prevent further investigations from being carried out on other persons or companies with respect to the case.
“The Defendant shall forfeit the sum of N140,000,000 recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the course of the investigation to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“The sum of N140,000,000 being the amount restituted by the Defendant shall be deducted from the account of CZMUNCH FABRICATORS AND WIRING VENTURES—CHIMERA LOGISTICS AND HAULAGE SERVICES, with account number 5435830566 domiciled in Moniepoint Microfinance Bank, which will be transferred to the EFCC Recovery Account,” Ekwo said.
The judge subsequently sentenced the company to a fine of N1 million, which would be paid to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Ekwo held that the defendants should pay the amounts within 14 days or the EFCC should bring the director back to be sent to prison.
BREAKING: Nigerian court convicts crypto firm for unlicensed USDT-Naira trading
-
News2 days agoFIRS announces recruitment of young graduates
-
metro3 days agoUpdated: Army says reports of COAS Lagbaja’s death fake news
-
metro2 days agoOluwo chased me out when I visited him – Ooni (VIDEO)
-
News3 days agoOsinbajo traitor, can’t talk about integrity – Reno Omokri
-
metro3 days agoFani-Kayode: How my aide died in hotel after attending church
-
Business2 days agoWe’re settling out of court with NNPC, others — Dangote
-
metro3 days agoBREAKING : DSS replaces Tinubu’s chief security officer
-
Africa2 days agoFamilies feared trapped as eight-storey building collapses