Metro

Cosmetic Surgery Goes Wrong, Judge, Therapist Clash

Published

3 years ago

December 16, 2022

A skin-care therapist, Pamela Onyeagusi, and an Abuja National Industrial Court judge, Justice Zainab Bashir, have traded blame following unsuccessful cosmetic procedures which left burns on the latter’s skin.

The therapist accused the judge of harassing and making life unbearable for her after she (Bashir) complained that the cosmetic treatments were not successful.

However, Justice Bashir accused the therapist of damaging her skin, adding that she had to travel out of the country to treat herself.

It was gathered that the judge approached Onyeagusi at her residence in Utako, Abuja, on May 8, 2022, to undergo facial, thigh, and stomach treatments after being referred by the therapist’s client.

The procedures were completed and the judge was said to have paid the therapist the sum of $2,000 on that day, and the balance of N500,000 two days later.

The peace, however, did not last long, as the judge complained that her face was breaking out days after the operation.

The PUNCH obtained pictures showing the burns on the judge’s skin after the botched procedures.

Onyeagusi told PUNCH that the judge was aware of her skin conditions when she came for the treatment.

She said, “She came to my office on referral from one of my clients. When she came, I didn’t know she was a judge. She wanted facial, thigh and stomach treatments. She had acne on her face, black thighs, and stretch marks and also wanted laser hair removal.

“She had facial treatment and because of the many blackheads on her face, we used extractor on her. Her thighs were bad and when she requested the treatment, I told her it was quite painful and not advisable for her since she had undergone previous liposuction and other surgeries.

“But she insisted that I should do it that she didn’t like the way her thighs looked.

“So, she spent about three hours in our facility that day and afterwards, she sent her driver to pay $2,000 cash and the balance of N500,000 was paid on May 10.

“However, she complained about her face breaking out which I told her was as a result of the acne; she came to my place and I used ice to massage it for her. I later advised her to use honey and even sent her the type of honey to apply.

“For her thighs, I advised there was the need for her to avoid putting pressure on them and that she should relax and avoid moving around for some days. However, she travelled the very next day being May 9. She even did double trips to Jos and Lagos.

“By May 13, she called and requested a refund of the money she paid for the services. Before her call, the client who referred her to me called and told me she was a judge and had been complaining that she didn’t get satisfaction from my procedure and so, I should refund her.”

Onyeagusi claimed that when Bashir called for a refund, she sent back the money for fear of being in more trouble, adding that she did not hear from the judge until in September when she (Onyeagusi) decided to reach out on a courtesy phone call.

“The moment she picked the call, she started threatening me that once she returned from the United States, she would teach me a lesson. Since then, I have not known peace. My BP sometimes rises to 200. I have not been able to concentrate to do my work and I am nursing twins. I have begged the woman, sent people to beg her but nothing has worked. I do not know why she is bent on ruining my life. She knows the truth in this whole issue. She knows how her body was when she came to my place,” she added.

Onyeagusi alleged that some policemen were at her house on Tuesday and Wednesday while she was away.

The PUNCH obtained a letter sent by one of Bashir’s lawyers, Ganiyu Bello, dated October 7, which alleged Onyeagusi of criminal misrepresentation, negligence, and causing bodily harm.

In the letter, Bashir noted the reactions she suffered from the cosmetic procedures and asked Onyeagusi to take steps to remedy the damage to avoid a legal suit.

It was learnt that a copy of the letter was sent to the court as a direct criminal complaint.

In a response letter sent by Onyeagusi’s lawyer, Fredricks Ituka, SAN, dated November 30, the therapist denied the allegations of recklessness and negligence, adding that she would be “willing to have a meeting for a peaceful resolution of the issues.”

Contacted, Justice Bashir said all the allegations against her were untrue.

While threatening our correspondent with a libel suit, she said the matter had been sent to the Consumer Protection Commission, Abuja, adding that Onyeagusi destroyed her skin.

She said, “I am not in Nigeria currently because I came for treatment. She injured me and I’m using my money for my ticket, accommodation, and treatment. I don’t need her money but the lady must face justice. The case is already with the Consumer Protection Commission, Abuja. I will advise you to wait or contact them. They have invited her to the commission because she’s not fit to be running that business.

“All I went for was a facial treatment but she brought out a laser machine and said she could operate it. I didn’t know she could not and she burnt my face and skin.

“Have you seen where she is operating? She’s operating in one filthy place and she calls the place her house and also where she injured people. The police are aware that she has injured several persons. If I wanted to arrest her, I would have done that since May when it happened. I won’t say more. But the moment you write anything about me that is not correct, my lawyers will sue you.”

A letter obtained by The PUNCH and written by another of Justice Bashir’s lawyers, Babs Akinwumi, dated December 14, to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, calling the agency to investigate the qualification and certification of Onyeagusi.

A Consumer Protection Commission representative, Oluchi Uchenwa, confirmed the report but declined further comments.

“The officer handling the matter is not on seat. She is the only person that can give you any update that you need,” she added.

A plastic surgeon, Dr Ayo Aranmolate, said liposuction should only be done by a dermatologist.

He said, “By the history of surgery, those who do liposuction are dermatologists. Dermatologists are skin physicians but are specialists. Someone can be a skin therapist and not a dermatologist.

“There are some that will open shops and be doing skin care because they have some form of training with skin care product providers. Some providers also train people on basic skin care.”

The surgeon noted that a patient should have proper diagnosis before undergoing skin care, as it would help the operators to know what they should or should not do.

“If a person wants to treat acne and she follows the necessary procedures, there can be flaring. It’s better to have informed the patient ahead on what she will experience after the treatment.

“So, there can be skin reactions after some skin procedures. Some may have plaster reactions, blistering, etc,” he added.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Sylvester Elema, said the judge’s reaction was understandable but expressed worry over the alleged threat to life.

He said, “The fact that she is a judge does not prevent her from feeling disappointed and dissatisfied with the services offered to her.

“However, if the allegation of threat to life is true, then she carried her grievance too far. It’s the right thing that the Consumer Protection Commission is now involved.”

PUNCH

Metro

Edo Assembly Declares Okpebholo’s Projects Unprecedented

Published

1 day ago

December 10, 2025

Editor

The Edo State House of Assembly has described projects embarked upon by Governor Monday Okpebholo as unprecedented in the history of Edo State.

Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Atu Osamwonyi, made the assertion when he led members of the legislature on a comprehensive oversight inspection of several ongoing infrastructural projects.

Other lawmakers on the oversight team included Hon. Addeh Isibor, Hon. Yekini Idaiye, and Hon. Ugabi Kingsley.

Hon. Osamwonyi, who spoke during an assessment tour of the Sapele Road Flyover, said the lawmakers were in the field to verify the progress of work and ensure that funds appropriated by the Assembly were being judiciously utilised.

According to him, the flyover represents a milestone for Benin City and reflects the governor’s commitment to infrastructural renewal.

He emphasised that unlike past administrations where funds were approved with no tangible results, the Okpebholo-led government had demonstrated transparency and visible delivery.

“In my entire life in Edo State, this flyover project is the first of its kind. We are here physically, and work is ongoing,” he said.

The Deputy Speaker added that the Assembly had earlier inspected the Ramat Park Flyover on Monday, noting similar levels of progress.

“This is the fifth site we have visited since yesterday. We are impressed with what we have seen so far, and as a House, we will stand by the governor to ensure he finishes strong,” he said.

At Ogheghe, Old Sapele Road and Ekae Road—where a 14-kilometre road and concrete drainage network is underway—Hon. Osamwonyi described the construction efforts as unprecedented, expressing astonishment at the level of work done within a short period.

He insisted that the legislature does not play politics with accountability and would speak the truth at all times.

“If Governor Okpebholo was not doing well, we would say it. But I stand here today to affirm that the funds appropriated are being used judiciously for the benefit of the people.l”, he noted.

He further remarked that despite limited financial resources, the governor had delivered projects many believed were impossible.

The Deputy Speaker recalled that several communities, particularly in Ogheghe, previously suffered from severe road degradation that made access impossible, even for motorcycles.

“But today we are standing here with joy. The governor has brought democracy to Edo in a way the people can feel,” he said.

According to him, contractors handling the projects confirmed that although the initial timeline was two years, work would likely be completed within one year and six months due to the speed of implementation.

“That tells you that Governor Okpebholo is not eating Edo people’s money,” he added.

Hon. Osamwonyi stressed that the Assembly would resist any attempt to derail the governor’s momentum.

“This is the continuity we want in Edo State. Anybody who wants to thwart the governor’s efforts, we will not agree,” he said.

The oversight team also visited the 5.86-kilometre road project linking Amagba and Obagie-N’Ebvuosa, where the engineer handling the project reported that 4.3 kilometres of drainage had already been completed.

Metro

Edo Final-year Student Dies In Sign-out Motorcade Crash

Published

1 day ago

December 10, 2025

Editor

A yet-to-be-identified final-year student of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, has lost his life in a road crash after he and some other students embarked on a motorcade parade to celebrate the completion of their final examinations.

It was learnt on Tuesday from a Facebook user, Inside Edo, that the accident occurred on Monday shortly after the students finished their final examination.

Inside Edo disclosed that the vehicle had attempted to overtake another before losing control and ramming into a truck.

The post read, “A tragic accident has occurred at Ujoelen, close to the primary school, resulting in the death of a newly graduated student of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.

“According to eyewitnesses, the crash happened during an attempted overtaking by one of the vehicles involved.

“The risky manoeuvre reportedly led to a loss of control, causing the fatal incident. Residents who were nearby rushed to the scene, but the victim could not be saved.”

Similarly, the News Agency of Nigeria reported that the students were said to have been driving recklessly before crashing into a stationary truck.

The deceased was said to be part of a convoy made up of fresh graduates of the university.

NAN reported, “He was reportedly part of a convoy of fresh graduates who took to the highway on Monday shortly after their signing-out activities.

“Witnesses said the group drove recklessly and failed to observe basic safety rules during the celebrations.

“The tragedy occurred when the deceased attempted to overtake a moving truck but collided with a stationary vehicle parked along the road.”

Efforts to get the reaction of the Edo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Cyril Mathew, proved abortive, as the official number available on the FRSC directory was not reachable at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, NAN reported that Mathew later confirmed the incident, adding that one person died while five others were injured in the crash.

“The students, after writing their last paper, took to the road in a convoy.

“In the process, one of them overtook another vehicle and rammed into a stationary truck,” NAN quoted Mathew as saying.

Metro

One Dies In Oyo Fire, Two Rescued

Published

1 day ago

December 10, 2025

Editor

One person lost her life in a fire incident at Agbaakin Street, behind Testing Ground, Iwo Road, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Monday.

This was contained in a statement by the Chairman of the State Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande, in Ibadan, on Tuesday.

He said the fire resulted from a lighted charcoal cooking pot left unattended, which ignited nearby combustible materials.

Akinwande added that the firefighting operation was successfully carried out with the support of officers of the Federal Fire Service.

“The fire emergency was received at exactly 20:18 hours on Monday, December 8, 2025.

“On getting there, it was two rooms on the upper floor of a private residential building of 12 rooms engulfed by fire.

“One person (female) was recovered, while two persons (males) were rescued alive. The fire also affected only two rooms, and the whole building and other properties worth millions of naira were saved by the officers of the agency.

“The fire incident was a result of a lighted charcoal cooking pot left unattended, which ignited nearby combustible materials. The operation was jointly carried out with the Federal Fire Service, Ibadan Command,” he explained.

In a related development, a fire incident on Tuesday engulfed the Agric Business Development Agency at Total Garden in Ibadan.

A statement by the State Fire Service Chairman, Akinwande, said the agency received a telephone call through Mr Akinyinka reporting that fire had ravaged the place.

“The incident was reported at exactly 09:20hrs on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, through a telephone call by Mr Akinyinka (the General Manager, Oyo State Fire Services Agency) to the office, reporting a fire at the above-stated address.

“The officers, led by ACFS Oyeniyi Taofeek, swiftly mobilised and deployed to the scene. Upon arrival, it was discovered that electrical sparks from a solar inverter control board on the upper floor of the building resulted in the fire.

“The swift response and professional intervention of our officers prevented the situation from escalating into a fire disaster. The use of portable fire extinguishers was employed during the firefighting operation.

“No casualty was recorded, and properties worth millions of naira were saved by the fire service. The fire incident was a result of electrical sparks from the inverter system,” the statement read.

The chairman, therefore, advised the public to always use correct cables and other electrical materials for their installations.