A distraught mother, Caroline Abiodun, has accused doctors at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State, of negligence, which led to the paralysis of her 27-year-old daughter, Mofeyintoluwa Abiodun.

Mofeyintoluwa, a graduate of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology from the Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso, was allegedly misdiagnosed by the hospital.

Caroline said she took her daughter to the hospital for malaria treatment, alleging that the doctors gave her the wrong treatment that worsened her health.

Narrating her ordeal to Saturday PUNCH, Abiodun lamented that the hospital destroyed her daughter’s life.

“In January 2021, my daughter came down with malaria and typhoid fever and I took her for treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta. Before going to the hospital, we had already done a malaria and typhoid test which came out positive.

“When we got to the hospital, we were directed to one Dr Lukmon Ogunjimi who attended to us. He prescribed some drugs and asked us to do an MRI scan.

“Three days later, my daughter’s condition became worse. After using the drugs, she became weak and had rashes all over her body. We took the result of the scan to the doctor and he told us that there was nothing wrong with her brain. We complained about her condition and he prescribed another set of drugs, including topiramate.

“Things took a worse turn after this as my daughter started shaking involuntarily. Since then, my daughter has been paralysed while she is also battling with constant head tremors. We later found out that the drugs prescribed by the doctor were for the treatment of epilepsy.

“What was supposed to be a simple treatment turned into a nightmare. My daughter was vibrant and healthy, but now she is paralysed and unable to care for herself.”

The 72-year-old retiree lamented that her family had incurred enormous medical expenses, leaving them emotionally and financially drained.

She added that despite the involvement of the state Ministry of Justice and human rights organisations, the hospital refused to take responsibility for the deteriorating condition of her daughter.

“My daughter cannot walk without assistance; she can’t do anything. Her dreams have been cut short; she has to be carried everywhere and the hospital management even threatened us for reporting them to the Ministry of Justice. All I want is for them to restore my daughter’s health,” Abiodun said.

When contacted, the hospital’s Head of Public Relations and Communication, Segun Orisajo, said the hospital could not be blamed for the predicament of Mofeyintoluwa.

Orisajo said, “There was neither a case of misdiagnosis nor wrong prescribing.”

Some Nigerians in Finland are in panic following the arrest and detention of separatist leader, Simon Ekpa.

Ekpa is one of the leaders of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra.

According to sources, Nigerians in the European country are afraid of commenting on the arrest of the suspect over fear of being attacked.

A Nigerian community leader, who spoke to one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, noted that the Igbo community was “gravely affected” by the violent acts of the secessionist group.

He said, “Everyone is afraid to speak about Ekpa’s arrest. The key people in Finland and the Igbo community at large are not ready to lend their voices either.”

The source noted that some persons were being accused of reporting Ekpa to the police and were being threatened.

“A particular person they accused now, they’re after him. This happened before he (Ekpa) was even remanded—what will happen when they imprison him? Everyone is afraid. These people are very deadly,” the source said.

Another resident, who also asked not to be identified, said there was tension among Nigerians in the country.

“People don’t want to speak about Ekpa for fear of being hunted by his followers. We believe that they will hunt whoever comes out to talk about their leader. But the Finnish Government is trying to get rid of the situation.”

Ekpa’s arrest

Ekpa was arrested alongside four others on Thursday by Finnish authorities on suspicion of terror-related activities, including incitement to violence and financing terrorism.

Checks revealed that his X handle (@simon_ekpa) had been inactive for four days.

Ekpa, who describes himself as the Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, is accused of using social media to promote violent activities in southeastern Nigeria, including attacks on civilians and the authorities.

He was first arrested in February 2023 for inciting comments and sit-at-home orders to the people of the South-East.

The suspect gained international notoriety for his calls to boycott Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, which were enforced through violent means, contributing to attacks on residents.

Before his arrest, Ekpa had attracted global attention, with thousands of Nigerians worldwide petitioning the Finnish and Nigerian governments, as well as the European Union, to take action against his disruptive activities.

In response, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Leena Pylvanainen, urging Finland to cooperate in addressing Ekpa’s threats.

A local publication in Finland, Yle noted that the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation acted on the reports by detaining Ekpa and later releasing him.

The Finnish police also confirmed that Ekpa, a Finnish citizen of Nigerian origin, and four of his accomplices were arrested as part of an international investigation.

A report stated that the District Court of Päijät-Häme, Finland, ordered Ekpa’s remand in prison, “with probable cause on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.”

The police stated that the main suspect, Ekpa, was arrested “on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent,” while four unnamed accomplices were arrested “for financing a terrorist crime.”

A Senior Detective Superintendent at Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, Mikko Laaksonen, confirmed via email to Saturday PUNCH that further details about the suspects couldn’t be disclosed.

Laaksonen explained that “NBI Finland cannot confirm the name of the suspect(s). The proceedings in the district court and contents of the decisions are classified at this point of the investigation,” adding, “The Ministry of Justice is the competent authority regarding extraditions.”

Hunt for sponsors

Meanwhile, Nigerians on social media have begun to search for suspected sponsors of the suspect, particularly those financing his alleged terror activities from the United States.

An X user, @Burmese_Tyga_, stated that those sponsoring him should be identified and brought to book.

He said, “If Simon Ekpa is indicted for terrorism in Finland and you know anybody in the US who has donated to him, pls forward name and address to me. I’ll make a comprehensive list I’m sending to the Department of State as sponsors of terrorism.

Someone has to pay for the lives wasted and blood spilled in Igbo land. Destroying your lives here in the US is the least we can do.”

Several names were thrown up under the tweet, as some of those identified denied having any relationship with him.

But a user, @MaaziFaisal, said the Finnish Government might check his financial flow.

“And those in Diaspora and at home funding his terrorism act will be brought to book,” he added.

Detention excites IPOB, MASSOB indifferent

The spokesman for IPOB, Emma Powerful, said people in the South-East were happy with the arrest of the suspect, adding that he had been responsible for the many travails in the region.

He said, “There was no rest; people could not sleep with two eyes closed, people cannot go to another village for visitation because of what he is doing with his criminal gang.

“Except the politicians that are supporting him that will not be happy with what is happening to him. Now he has said that he is not a prime minister of Biafra and that he is an ordinary member. He is not our member.

“If they (government) feel that they can extradite him, better. If they feel like bringing him for trial in Nigeria, it is okay. But they know those sponsoring him.”

But the spokesperson for the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, Samuel Edeson, said the group had commenced consultation on Ekpa’s arrest.

Edeson said, “We are still studying the events and circumstances surrounding the arrest. We will consult other groups and do the needful when we are done.”

Nigeria monitors situation

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Nigerian government would continue to track the progress of Ekpa’s case, emphasising the importance of addressing the influence of IPOB and transnational actors on the country’s national security.

The spokesperson for the ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa, in a statement on Friday, confirmed the arrest of Ekpa on Thursday.

“He was charged with inciting terrorism and promoting violence. The Finnish District Court of Päijät-Häme ruled to detain him on probable cause for publicly inciting crimes with terrorist intent.

“The ministry wishes to affirm that the arrest of Mr Simon Ekpa is a significant development in addressing the activities of IPOB and neutralising the influence of transnational actors on our national security. The ministry will continue to monitor the legal proceedings and provide further updates as the case progresses,” the statement said.

Extradition process

The Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, on Thursday, suggested that Ekpa, who is the leader of the Eastern Security Network, the paramilitary wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra, would be extradited to Nigeria to face criminal charges.

However, experts have expressed concerns about the challenges involved in the process, highlighting significant legal and diplomatic hurdles.

Some argue that Finland and Nigeria do not have an extradition treaty, which may create a problem for Ekpa to face charges for the alleged crime in Nigeria.

However, a former Nigerian envoy, Ambassador Yemi Farounbi, in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, said the decision to extradite would ultimately depend on the nature of the diplomatic relationship between the two countries.

He said even in the absence of a direct extradition treaty, multilateral agreements could play a role.

“It is possible that countries may extradite individuals based on multilateral agreements, even if there is no direct treaty between them,” he added.

He also highlighted the role of international law, noting that as a sovereign nation, Nigeria’s interests would be protected under the United Nations framework.

“No member of the United Nations would support actions that threaten the sovereignty of another member nation unless there is a direct bilateral dispute,” Farounbi added.

The ex-envoy also emphasised that Finland would follow due process and the rule of law in any extradition decision, and that the court’s ruling would be based on Finland’s legal framework, not Nigeria’s.

“If Simon Ekpa’s actions are deemed to threaten Finland’s diplomatic interests, the court could rule against extradition based on Finnish law,” he said.

The former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Thursday, sought to amend her suit challenging the order obtained by the EFCC for final forfeiture of her seized assets.

Alison-Madueke, through her lawyer, Godwin Iyinbor, told Justice Inyang of a Federal High Court in Abuja upon resumed hearing in the suit.

When the matter was called, no counsel appeared for the EFCC.

Justice Ekwo then asked Iyinbor if he had received processes from the anti-graft agency and he responded in the affirmative.

“Yes, my lord. We received a counter affidavit to our originating process and we have filed a further affidavit in response,” Iyinbor responded.

The lawyer, however, informed the court that they had filed a motion to amend their processes and that the commission had been duly served.

The judge consequently adjourned the matter until Feb. 17, 2025, for hearing the motion to amend their originating process.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ex-minister had, through his counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, sued the anti-graft agency as sole respondent.

Alison-Madueke, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, sought an order extending the time to seek leave to apply to the court for an order to set aside the EFCC’s public notice issued to conduct a public sale on her property.

In the motion dated and filed on Jan. 6, 2023 by her lawyer, the former minister sought five orders from the court.

The former minister, who argued that the various orders were made without jurisdiction, said these “ought to be set aside ex debito justitiae.”

She said she was not given a fair hearing in all the proceedings leading to the orders.

“The various court orders issued in favour of the respondent and upon which the respondent issued the public notice were issued in breach of the applicant’s right to fair hearing as guaranteed by Section 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, as altered, and other similar constitutional provisions,” she said.

She argued that she was neither served with the charge sheet and proof of evidence in any of the charges nor any other summons regarding the criminal charges pending against her before the court.

She further argued that the courts were misled into making several final forfeiture orders against her assets through suppression or non-disclosure of material facts.

“The several applications upon which the courts made the final order of forfeiture against the applicant were obtained upon gross misstatements, misrepresentations, non-disclosure, concealment and suppression of material facts.

”This honourable court has the power to set aside same ex debito justitiae, as a void order is as good as if it was never made at all.

“The orders were made without recourse to the constitutional right to fair hearing and right to property accorded the applicant by the constitution.

“The applicant was never served with the processes of court in all the proceedings that led to the order of final forfeiture,” she said, among other grounds given.

But the EFCC, in a counter-affidavit deposed to by Rufai Zaki, a detective with the commission, urged the court to dismiss her application.

Mr Zaki, a member of the team that investigated a case of criminal conspiracy, official corruption and money laundering against the ex-minister and some other persons involved in the case, said the investigation had clearly shown that she was involved in some acts of criminality.

He said Mr s Alison-Madueke was therefore charged before the court in charge no: FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2018.

“We hereby rely on the charge FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2018 dated 14 November 2018 filed before this honourable court and also attached as Exhibit C in the applicant’s affidavit,” he said.

The EFCC operative said most of the depositions in Mrs Alison-Madueke’s suit were untrue.

He said contrary to her deposition in the affidavit filed in support of the suit, most of the cases which led to the final forfeiture of the contested property “were action in rem, same was heard at various times and determined by this honourable court.”

He said the courts ordered the commission to do a newspaper publication inviting parties to show cause why the said property should not be forfeited to the federal government before final orders were made.

Mr Zaki argued that one Nnamdi Awa Kalu represented the ex-minister in reaction to one of the forfeiture applications.

“We humbly rely on the judgment of Hon. Justice I.LN. Oweibo dated 10th September, 2019 shown in Exhibit C of the applicant’s affidavit,” he said.

The officer said contrary to her, the final forfeiture of the assets, which were subject to the present application, was ordered by the court in 2017 and that this was not set aside or upturned on appeal.

According to him, the properties have been disposed of through due process of law.

The anti-corruption agency had planned to conduct a public sale of all the assets seized for being proceeds of crime as ordered by courts to be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

The auctioning exercise, conducted on the seized assets believed to include Alison-Madueke’s property, started on Jan. 9, 2023.

The suspended chairman of EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, had revealed that $153 million and over 80 property had been recovered from the ex-minister.

She was alleged to have escaped to the United Kingdom and remained there after her exit from public office as the petroleum minister, an office she held between 2010 and 2015 under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The asset-related suit is different from the one she also filed to seek N100 billion as compensation for a series of EFCC’s alleged libellous publications against her.

(NAN)