By Joe Udo
LAGOS (CONVERSEER) – A Lagos-based man, Justice John, has accused Gynescope Specialist Hospital, Lekki, of medical negligence following the death of his wife, Akudo Lovelyn John, during childbirth in December 2025.
In a detailed petition and public account, John alleged that his wife died from mismanaged Primary Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH) after delivering their baby at the private hospital where she had received antenatal care throughout her pregnancy.
According to him, Akudo had no underlying medical conditions and was closely monitored during her antenatal visits. In her third trimester, the attending consultant obstetrician, Dr Joseph Aliyu Yahaya, reportedly raised concerns about the baby’s size. John said he and his wife requested consideration for an elective Caesarean Section due to the risks associated with fetal macrosomia, but the consultant allegedly dismissed the option and insisted on spontaneous vaginal delivery.
On Wednesday, 3 December 2025, Akudo went into labour and delivered a baby weighing 4.2 kilogrammes after an episiotomy was performed. John stated that shortly after delivery, the consultant left the labour ward and the suturing procedure was completed by a subordinate doctor.
He further alleged that his wife complained of an unusual dripping sensation and persistent bleeding. The consultant later observed swelling of the vulva and tight sutures, prompting a second suturing procedure. After this intervention, John said his wife became pale, unresponsive and remained unconscious for several hours while bleeding continued.
Despite reportedly confirming internal bleeding, John accused the hospital of failing to refer his wife to a higher-level facility or involve external specialists. He claimed that blood transfusions were administered without identifying or repairing the source of the haemorrhage, and that a 15-hour window elapsed between delivery and her death.
In the early hours of Thursday, 4 December 2025, Akudo reportedly began convulsing. John said there was no medical personnel present at the time and no oxygen available in the ward. Although he requested an emergency transfer to another hospital, he alleged that the consultant initially refused, stating that no facility would accept her without a pulse.
During the eventual evacuation, John described what he termed “gross lapses” in emergency response. He alleged that his wife fell from an unsecured stretcher on the third floor during evacuation, that hospital staff were uncertain whether to use stairs or the lift, and that the ambulance was parked far from the entrance, covered and unprepared.
He further claimed the ambulance could not be opened immediately because the keys were with the hospital’s Human Resources manager and that the vehicle battery had to be connected before departure. Throughout this period, he said his wife lay exposed without oxygen support.
The ambulance reportedly stopped twice en route and became disoriented on Lagos Island. John said he intervened and directed the vehicle to Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, where his wife was pronounced dead on arrival.
Gynescope Specialist Hospital later issued a death certificate listing cardiac arrest as the cause of death. However, an autopsy conducted at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) reportedly concluded that Akudo died from haemorrhagic shock, contradicting the hospital’s initial diagnosis.
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John said he has written formal petitions to the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, the Ministry of Health, the Health Service Commission, and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), demanding a full investigation into the incident and appropriate sanctions where necessary.
“I demand accountability,” he stated.
Below is the full account and public petition by John:
THE AGONY OF LOSING MY BELOVED AND NEWLY WEDDED WIFE AT GYNESCOPE SPECIALIST HOSPITAL, LEKKI
My wife went to Gynescope Specialist Hospital, Lekki, for childbirth and died from mismanaged Primary Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH). The same hospital where she registered and had her antenatal care without any underlying illness.
In her third trimester, during one of the antenatal visits, the Consultant and attending doctor, Dr Joseph Aliyu Yahaya, disclosed the considerable size of the baby. We raised concerns regarding safe delivery options and the possibility of an elective Cesarean Section (CS) owing to the fetal size. The Consultant dismissed CS and insisted on SVD.
On Wednesday, 3rd December 2025, my wife went into labour. The Consultant performed an episiotomy on her, and our baby was delivered weighing 4.2KG. Immediately after delivery, the consultant left the labour ward and my wife’s episiotomy was done by his subordinate.
My wife complained of a dripping sensation inside her body. After observation, the Consultant noted that the vulva was unusually swollen and the sutures were too tight. The Consultant re-sutured her. After this second procedure, my wife looked lifeless, pale, and unconscious for hours, while the bleeding continued unabated.
The Consultant confirmed she was bleeding internally yet took no active steps in referring or seeking specialist help outside the primary facility. There was a clear 15-hour window between the delivery of our baby and my wife’s eventual passing. Blood transfusion was done without first identifying and repairing the source of bleeding.
At about 3:00 a.m. on Thursday, 4th December 2025, my wife complained of discomfort and began convulsing. It is important to note that at this critical moment, no medical personnel were in sight. Minutes after I screamed for help, doctors and nurses arrived from the ground floor. There was notably no oxygen in the ward where my wife was admitted. At this time, I requested a transfer of my wife to another facility, but the Consultant said no facility would accept her without a pulse. Minutes later, the Consultant then agreed for her to be moved.
MY OBSERVATIONS DURING THE EVACUATION OF MY WIFE
Firstly, the Hospital brought a stretcher without side guards or straps to evacuate my wife. While moving her, she fell off the stretcher onto the hard floor of the tiled walkway on the 3rd floor. (I have challenged the Hospital to release the undistorted CCTV footage of the 3rd floor showing when my wife was being stretched out in the early hours of Thursday, 4th December 2025). I rushed to help lift her back up. The staff seemed confused about whether to use the stairs or the elevator, thereby wasting valuable time during such an emergency.
Secondly, upon reaching the ground floor, I expected the ambulance to be positioned at the entrance of the hospital door, ready to receive her. Sadly, the ambulance was stationed about 80 metres away, still covered in a tarpaulin showing no readiness. Only then was the cover removed. When I asked the driver to open the ambulance, I heard the most shocking thing – the keys were with the Human Resources (HR) Manager. It took considerable time to retrieve the keys. When the driver finally opened the bus, he stated he needed to connect the battery. Throughout this chaos, my wife lay in the open on a stretcher, unattended and without oxygen.
Thirdly, the ambulance finally took off. I insisted that the Consultant accompany her as the most experienced personnel available. I drove behind the ambulance, which stopped twice on the way. Upon reaching Lagos Island from Ikate, a trip of about 15 minutes, depending on the time of night, I noticed the ambulance appeared lost. I overtook them to inquire, and a nurse informed me they were heading to “Marina.” Suspecting they meant a government hospital on Broad Street, I then led them to Lagos Island Maternity Hospital (LIMH), where my wife was pronounced Dead on Arrival. LIMH issued a note for her body to be deposited at the General Hospital morgue.
Gynescope Specialist Hospital reluctantly issued a death certificate claiming the cause of death was Cardiac Arrest. However, my wife’s body was taken to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) for an autopsy as part of the Coroner’s Inquest. LUTH has now issued a death certificate clearly stating the cause of death to be Hemorrhagic Shock, directly contradicting the Hospital’s claim.
STEPS TAKEN
I have written to the Lagos State Government through the Hon. Commissioner for Health, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Permanent Secretary, Health Service Commission. I have also petitioned the Medical & Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), calling for a thorough investigation into the events of 3rd–4th December 2025 at Gynescope Specialist Hospital, and the circumstances under which my wife painfully lost her life. Where applicable, appropriate sanctions and/or criminal prosecution should be undertaken.
I demand accountability.
Signed:
Justice John.
As of the time of filing this report, Gynescope Specialist Hospital had not issued an official response to the allegations.
