…Hospital Accused of Cover-Up
From Moshood Karim
Mr Umoru Imokha Abdulahi, a humble sawmill labourer from Agenebode, has accused University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) staff of diverting funds generously donated by Governor Monday Okpebholo to settle his wife’s medical bills following the birth of their first child.
The heart-wrenching saga unfolded after Mr Abdulahi’s wife, underwent a Caesarean section at UBTH on 20 March 2025, a joyous moment that quickly turned into a nightmare as the young family struggled to pay the mounting medical bills. But just when hope seemed lost, news came that the Edo State Government, through the benevolence of Governor Okpebholo, had sent a delegation to clear the family’s hospital bills in full.
However, Mr Abdulahi has come forward with explosive claims that neither the governor’s funds nor a separate ₦400,000 donation from a good Samaritan ever reached him.
“We were hurried away from the hospital after the staff asked us to pay the amount we were able to raise. I managed to gather ₦240,000 with help from friends and relatives. Then, they asked us to leave,” he recounted, visibly shaken.
According to Abdulahi, the UBTH management allegedly staged a cover-up, immediately replacing his wife’s hospital bed with another patient, one Mr Akpan, who was then falsely presented to the governor’s delegation as the intended beneficiary.
“The moment the hospital heard the governor’s team was coming, they rushed us out and brought in another patient. That person was introduced to the delegation, and the money that was meant for us was given to him. Even the ₦400,000 donated by a kind Nigerian to the hospital’s account was never handed over to us,” he said in a voice choked with emotion.
The Edo State Government delegation, led by Dr Precious Ogboru, Special Adviser on Health Matters, and Mr James Iorkusah, Executive Assistant to the Governor, had visited UBTH on Friday, 21 March, with the specific purpose of settling the Abdulahi family’s medical bills.
“This intervention aligns with the SHINE transformational agenda of the present administration,” Dr Ogboru said at the time. “Governor Okpebholo personally instructed that the medical bills be paid immediately. This gesture reflects the compassionate leadership of this administration.”
Yet, if Mr Abdulahi’s claims are confirmed, this act of compassion has been turned into a shameful betrayal, prompting nationwide outrage and calls for immediate investigation into the hospital’s conduct.
With his family now back home and struggling to recover from the emotional and financial toll, Mr Abdulahi is making a passionate appeal to Governor Okpebholo and well-meaning Nigerians to intervene.
“I am begging the governor to look into this. That money never got to us. UBTH staff treated us like we were nothing and pushed us out so they could benefit. I want justice for my family,” he pleaded.
At the time of filing this report, UBTH management has not issued any official response to the allegations, despite repeated requests for comment.
As this scandal unfolds, one thing remains painfully clear: a young family, already burdened by the hardships of life, has been left stranded and betrayed—not by fate, but by the very system meant to protect them.
Have you been affected by similar experiences at UBTH or other public hospitals? Contact our investigative desk at [email protected]
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