Mr. Umoru Imokha Abdulahi, from Aganebode , Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State whose wife went through a cesarean section at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital UBTH on March 20, 2025 was detained with her newborn baby over unpaid medical bills totaling N330,000,
despite paying N200,000 initially deposit.
Umoru Abdulahi had earlier appealed for help from kind-hearted Nigerians . The appeal got the attention of Governor Monday Okpebholo , who promptly sent Dr. Precious Ogboru, Special Adviser on Health Matters, and Mr. James Iorkusah, Executive Assistant to the Governor to pay the outstanding bills for Abdulahi.
However, according to Abdulahi, on the 12th of April the hospital staff asked him to pay whatever amount he could raise and he managed to gather an extra 40, 000 with help from friends and relatives making it a total of #240,000
. “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 a total of ₦240,000 with help from friends and relatives. Then, they asked usto leave,” he recounted.
Abdulahi alleges that the UBTH management staged a cover-up by replacing his wife’s hospital bed with another patient, Mr. Akpan, who was 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,” Abdulahi said in a voice choked with emotion.
Abdulahi is now appealing to Governor Monday 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.
Reacting, the Public Relations Officer of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) , Mr Joshua Uwaila said , he did not hear about any allegation, he maintained that the man would have asked the person who gave the money who the money was made for .
“I have not heard any allegation, but instead of making allegations, he should have verified from the person who gave the money who the money was made for”
