A Lagos-based consultant architect, Mr. Alfred Ogene, has instituted a legal claim against R-Jolad Hospital Nigeria Limited over alleged gross medical negligence that he claims resulted in permanent damage to his urinary system.
Ogene, who is seeking compensation totalling over N800 million, alleged that the hospital’s unprofessional handling of a routine catheterisation procedure left him with severe physical injuries and psychological trauma.
In a memorandum signed by Joseph Aborisade of Nojim Tairu & Co. Legal Practitioners, the claimant narrated how what should have been standard post-stroke care turned into a medical nightmare that has allegedly left him permanently scarred.
According to the claim, Ogene was admitted to the hospital in the early hours of November 15, 2025, for treatment of partial paralysis following a stroke.
A urinary catheter was inserted to assist urination, but complications arose almost immediately.
“In the early hours of November 16, 2025, our client noticed that while he urinated, part of the urine went into the catheter bag while the rest spilled over his body,” the memorandum stated.
The situation, he alleged, was drawn to the attention of a doctor on duty, following which Nurse Oseni removed the initial catheter and inserted another.
However, about two hours after the new catheter was inserted, Ogene reportedly began experiencing severe pains in his groin area.
Despite alerting Nurse Elizabeth, who was then in attendance, the nurse allegedly checked the catheter and declared it normal, ignoring his complaints of excruciating pain.
The memorandum detailed how repeated complaints of worsening pain were ignored until Ogene’s abdomen became severely bloated and hardened, an indication of prolonged urine retention.
When two doctors eventually intervened, they allegedly “crudely pulled out the catheter” from the patient’s urethra, causing blood to spill over his body and bed.
“The medical team, comprising the two doctors and a nurse, unsuccessfully struggled to manage the situation for about 35 minutes, after which they eventually resorted to piercing our client’s lower abdomen to drain urine directly out of his bladder,” the solicitors stated.
The claimant’s legal team alleged that the nurse who handled the treatment either lacked sufficient training or acted with gross negligence, while the hospital failed to provide timely specialist intervention.
Ogene’s solicitors said their client has since endured continued trauma and humiliation, including the inability to perform daily activities, undergo physiotherapy for his stroke condition, or carry out his pastoral and architectural duties.
The claimant is demanding N500m for negligent treatment, N100m for trauma, N200m for loss of enjoyment and amenities of life, and N10m monthly from December 2025 until 2042 as loss of earnings in his capacity as a consultant architect.
He is also seeking a refund of N4.4m in hospital bills, as well as N20m for the cost of the legal action against the hospital and its officers, including the Medical Director and Proprietor, Dr. Rabiu Funsho.
The solicitors proposed a settlement meeting through Alternative Dispute Resolution, warning that failure to engage could result in full-scale litigation.
Responding to Saturday PUNCH’s inquiry via email, the hospital’s Customer Service Officer, Ayomide Olayiwola, said the matter had been escalated for appropriate investigation.
The facility maintained that it remained committed to upholding patient safety, professional ethics, and continuous quality improvement.
“The hospital treats all complaints and allegations relating to patient care with the utmost seriousness. Your inquiry requires the disclosure of a patient’s medical information. However, pursuant to extant laws, we are bound by strict legal and ethical obligations of confidentiality and patient privacy,” the statement read.
“All petitions and complaints received are subjected to thorough internal review processes, including clinical audits, professional reviews, and management oversight. This is in line with our clinical governance and quality assurance standards to ensure accountability and adherence to best medical practices. In this regard, the matter referenced is currently under review.”
The hospital noted that legal and ethical restrictions prohibited the disclosure of any patient-related information, including identity, medical condition, treatment, or clinical management, to third parties or the media.