A Lagos-based media personality, Beady Nnanna, has alleged that medical negligence led to the death of her 44-year-old sister, Blessing Okolie, following a fibroid surgery at a private hospital in the Abule Egba area of Lagos State.
In an interview with PUNCH, Nnanna claimed that a doctor at the facility mistakenly left a pair of scissors inside her sister during surgery, a situation she believes caused her eventual death after several days of suffering.
She explained that Blessing had struggled with a severe fibroid condition for years, which significantly impacted her health and personal life. According to her, the condition contributed to the breakdown of her sister’s marriage, as she was unable to conceive.
Determined to improve her chances of having a child, Blessing opted for surgery despite initial concerns about the hospital she chose.
Nnanna recounted that in December 2025, they had considered another hospital, but Blessing insisted on using a facility in Igoke Estate, Abule Egba, based on a recommendation. She said she was uneasy about the hospital’s condition from the outset.
The surgery took place on March 28, 2026. However, Nnanna alleged that post-operative care was inadequate, claiming her sister was placed on a bench shortly after surgery and later encouraged to take tea and milk to regain strength. She also said Blessing was made to walk shortly after the procedure despite being in pain.
Days later, complications emerged. Nnanna said her sister began experiencing abdominal pain and swelling, but repeated requests for a scan were allegedly dismissed by the hospital.
She further claimed that her sister’s condition worsened, with a greenish fluid reportedly draining from her body. It was only after persistent demands that a scan was eventually conducted at an external facility, revealing the presence of a metallic object in her abdomen.
According to her, the discovery left her devastated. A second surgery was performed on April 7 to remove the object, but Blessing’s condition continued to deteriorate.
Nnanna alleged that the hospital resisted referring her sister to a better-equipped facility despite her worsening state. She also claimed that at one point, the hospital ran out of fuel for its generator while her sister was on oxygen.
In a desperate move, she transported her sister to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), where treatment began, but her condition did not improve. Despite spending over N2 million on medical care, Blessing was later pronounced dead after efforts to revive her failed.
Nnanna believes her sister’s life could have been saved if proper diagnostic tests had been carried out earlier. She has reported the matter to the police but said no significant progress has been made.
Demanding accountability, she called on authorities to investigate the hospital and prevent similar incidents from happening to others.
Responding to the allegations, the Medical Director of OAR Medical Centre, Dr. Abiodun Ojifinni, confirmed that Blessing underwent a myomectomy at the facility and later developed complications, including sepsis.
He stated that the hospital managed her condition before referring her to LASUTH at the family’s request. He also cautioned against drawing conclusions, emphasizing that the actual cause of death would be determined through an autopsy and histopathology.
Ojifinni added that a government-backed coroner’s inquest is ongoing and urged the public to await its outcome before making definitive claims.
