Four staff members of Cottage Hospital, Iloffa, in Kwara State, have been formally charged in connection with the alleged disappearance of a baby's placenta and umbilical cord.
Dr. Ajibola Joseph, the resident doctor, Mrs. Olanrewaju
Joseph, the Matron, Mrs. Peace Alabi, a nurse, and Mrs. Toyin Adewumi, a ward
attendant, were presented before two separate Magistrates Courts in Ilorin on
Wednesday and Thursday.
The
charges stem from a report filed by Mrs. Bukola Williams, a teacher at Orota
Community Secondary School in Odo-Owa, Oke-Ero Local Council Area. Mrs.
Williams alleged that the placenta and umbilical cord of her newborn daughter,
delivered at the hospital the previous Sunday, were missing from the black
nylon bag handed to her upon discharge.
Dr.
Ajibola Joseph and Mrs. Olanrewaju Joseph were accused of negligence, facing
charges of "Negligent conduct causing danger to person or property,"
as outlined in Section 196 of the Penal Code Law of Nigeria. They appeared
before Magistrate A. A. Issa on Wednesday and were granted bail, with the case
adjourned until June 26, 2024.
On
Thursday, Mrs. Peace Alabi and Mrs. Toyin Adewumi faced a different Magistrate,
Chief Magistrate Qudus Adebayo. Despite their legal representation and
arguments for bail, Chief Magistrate Adebayo denied their applications, citing
the sensitivity of the matter. Consequently, he ordered their remand at the
Federal Correctional Facility in Ilorin until the next hearing scheduled for June
13, 2024.
Hassan
Sheu represented Mrs. Williams during the trial, underscoring the gravity of
the situation. While acknowledging jurisdictional limitations, Chief Magistrate
Adebayo deemed the circumstances compelling enough to warrant the denial of
bail.
The
case has drawn attention to the need for thorough investigations and
accountability within healthcare facilities, especially concerning the handling
of sensitive medical materials. Further legal proceedings will shed light on
the details surrounding this troubling incident.
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