Patient alleges urinary damage, files ₦800m claim against Lagos hospital

A Lagos-based architect, Alfred Ogene, has filed a legal claim against R-Jolad Hospital Nigeria Limited, alleging gross medical negligence that he says caused permanent damage to his urinary system and severe physical and psychological trauma.

In a memorandum issued through his lawyers, Nojim Tairu & Co., and signed by Joseph Aborisade, Ogene said he was admitted to the hospital in the early hours of November 15, 2025, for treatment of partial paralysis following a stroke.

According to the claim, a urinary catheter was inserted to aid urination, but complications soon developed.

Ogene alleged that on November 16, he noticed urine leaking over his body despite the catheter being in place and alerted a doctor on duty.

He said a nurse, identified as Nurse Oseni, removed the catheter and inserted another.

About two hours later, he reportedly began experiencing severe groin pain, which he said was dismissed as normal by another nurse, Nurse Elizabeth, despite repeated complaints.

The claim further stated that Ogene’s condition worsened, with his abdomen becoming severely bloated before two doctors intervened.

His lawyers alleged that the catheter had been wrongly inserted, leading to prolonged urine retention, and that attempts to manage the situation were mishandled, eventually resulting in an emergency procedure to drain urine directly from his bladder.

According to the solicitors, Ogene has since suffered lasting physical injury, emotional distress, and loss of dignity, which they say has prevented him from carrying out daily activities, physiotherapy sessions, and his professional duties as a consultant architect and pastor.

The claimant is seeking ₦500m in damages for negligent treatment, ₦100m for trauma, ₦200m for loss of enjoyment of life, ₦4.4m as a refund of hospital bills, and ₦20m for legal costs.

He is also demanding ₦10m monthly from December 2025 to 2042 as compensation for loss of earnings.

The lawyers proposed an out-of-court settlement through Alternative Dispute Resolution, warning that failure to engage could lead to litigation.

Responding via email to Saturday PUNCH, the hospital, through its Customer Service Officer, Ayomide Olayiwola, said the matter had been escalated for investigation.

The facility said it could not disclose details due to patient confidentiality laws but assured that all complaints are subjected to internal reviews, clinical audits, and management oversight in line with its clinical governance and quality assurance standards.