The Lagos State Government has initiated the trial of two medical doctors, Michael Atiba and Michael Ugbeye, concerning the death of a patient, Ejiro Ugorobi.
The doctors are being tried at the Ikeja High Court, presided over by Justice Oyindamola Ogala. They were arraigned on March 25, 2024, for their alleged involvement in the involuntary manslaughter of Ugorobi, to which they both pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutor A. O. Azeez stated that Atiba, a doctor at Gbagada General Hospital, and Ugbeye, a consultant at the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Igbobi, Lagos, face charges of involuntary manslaughter brought by the Lagos State Government.
Atiba revealed that the incident took place on October 21, 2023, at Michael Adekoya Street in Ilupeju, Lagos.
During the trial, the prosecution’s first witness, Nkechi Ugorobi, the mother of the deceased, testified that Ejiro had sustained a leg injury while playing football on September 9, 2023.
“Ejiro was my only son. He was 29 years old, an electrical engineer who transitioned into finance marketing. He was my friend, adviser, and confidant. On September 9, 2023, he fell while playing football and called to tell me about the accident,” she explained.
She mentioned that Ejiro had informed her of a serious injury with swelling in his leg and expressed the need to see Ugbeye at Morningside Specialist Hospital. Subsequent tests confirmed he had a torn ligament.
“I asked how severe it was, and he told me it was serious. His leg was swollen, and he needed to see a doctor at Morningside Specialist Hospital, where Ugbeye practices. The next day, he informed me he needed tests, which confirmed the torn ligament,” she continued.
Nkechi noted that during this time, Ejiro was working from home and reported that his swelling was decreasing and he felt better. However, he mentioned needing additional tests, including blood work, as he continued to experience pain and a limp.
“He was working from home, and he told me the swelling was going down, but he still felt pain and was limping,” she stated.
She further revealed that Ejiro had planned to undergo non-invasive surgery, which took place on October 21, 2023, with his sister by his side. After the surgery, he reported that it was successful but experienced discomfort and nausea.
She described how Ejiro’s condition worsened, noting alternating temperatures, a heavy leg, weakness, shortness of breath, and palpitations. Tragically, he passed away shortly after the surgery.
She said: “In October, he told me that he wanted to go and do an MRI. I told him that if the MRI was necessary, he should come so I could take him to some of those locals to massage his leg, and you’d be fine. But he said no. He told me he was going to have surgery, a non-invasive type of surgery. I’m quoting him.
“Ejiro carried out that surgery on October 21, 2023. Ejiro went to the hospital with his immediate elder sister. He told me that they were there already when he had the surgery. Afterwards, he called me and told me that the surgery was successful and that the surgeon did a perfect job, but that the injection they gave him was disturbing him, and that his stomach was disturbing him.
“He also said he felt like vomiting, that he was feeling cold and hot and that his leg was as heavy as iron. After some time, he said he was feeling sleepy. That was the end of my discussion with him.
“I spoke with him when he woke up, he told me that he was weak and that he was having shortness of breath and palpitations. After that, Ejiro died. He died after his surgery on October 21, 2023.”
Justice Ogala adjourned the case to November 20, 2024, for the trial and cross-examination of the prosecution’s second witness.
