Metro

New Naira: How My Pregnant Wife Died In Kano Hospital – Husband

Published

2 years ago

February 19, 2023

A 32-year-old woman, Shema’u Labaran, died along with her nine-month pregnancy at the Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital, Kano, reportedly due to the inability of her husband to pay medical bills in the new naira notes in time.

Labaran was allegedly left in pain for more than eight hours without attention from the medical personnel on duty.

Narrating the unfortunate incident that led to his wife’s death, the 42-year-old husband of the deceased, Bello Baffa, told an online newspaper on Saturday that his wife (Shema’u) bled to death while he was struggling to settle medical bills at the pharmacy through transfer.

Baffa revealed how he spent hours waiting for the cashier to confirm the payment of N8,528 for drugs because the hospital had stopped receiving the old naira notes.

The bereaved husband regretted that the medical personnel insisted they would not attend to his late wife until he deposited money and provided evidence before his wife would be attended to.

Baffa said he had earlier provided N8,500 old naira notes to the cashier but he was told the hospital management had placed an embargo on the old currency and refused to provide a point-of-sale service except payment through transfer.

Baffa told the online platform that the hospital subsequently requested N4,000 for blood service after he had brought his relatives to donate blood for his wife.

”I was told I had to pay an additional N4,000 for blood service, and I quickly rushed out to the payment point. At that time, it was late and (I was) afraid my wife had suffered a lot without medical attention. So after I made the payment and waited for an alert, I had to beg them to issue the payment evidence while my brother would remain with them pending when they would confirm the transfer. I also narrated my wife’s condition. They accepted the condition and the receipt was printed. I rushed to the ward again and it was at that moment, getting to 1am, that my wife was taken to the labour room.”

Regrettably, Baffa disclosed that the doctor later came out of the labour room around 3am to break the bad news, ‘your wife and unborn baby could not make it.’

Although the husband said he believed Shema’u would die at an appropriate time, he insisted that the alleged inhumane treatment by the hospital to his wife because of the old naira notes rejection contributed to her sudden death.

Baffa disclosed that he had taken to fate as a Muslim. He, however, urged the government to check the painful policy to save innocent lives from untimely death the way he lost Shema’u.

Efforts to get a reaction from the management of the hospital were not successful as our correspondent was directed to speak to the state hospital management board.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the board, Ibrahim Abdullahi, who confirmed the incident, stressed that the management had commenced investigation into the matter.

He noted that the Chief Medical Director is scheduled to brief journalists about the development as soon as the investigation is concluded.

Metro

16 Escape Death In Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway Crash

Published

13 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

Sixteen people narrowly escaped death on Monday night in a crash involving a Camry car, a Suzuki bus, and a tricycle at Iron Market along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

Ota Divisional Commander of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, Mr Salau Hammed, confirmed the incident to News Agency Nigeria on Tuesday, noting that the crash occurred around 8:20 p.m.

He said the accident involved a Camry car, a tricycle, both with no registration, and a Suzuki bus marked KRD 246 YK.

He said that a total of 16 persons were involved in the accident; however, three persons, comprising two males and a female, sustained various degrees of injuries.

Hammed explained that the Camry lost control due to speeding and rammed into two other vehicles.

“Those who sustained injuries were immediately taken to Adetutu Hospital, Ilepa area for treatment,” he said.

Hammed advised motorists against speeding to prevent avoidable crashes.

He said that the vehicles had been removed from the road to ease free flow of traffic.

Metro

High-tension Wire Electrocutes PoS Operator In Anambra

Published

13 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

A Point of Sales male operator in Nibo, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, has been electrocuted by a fallen high tension line.

It was gathered that the victim got electrocuted after a high-tension wire was cut and fell on him, while standing in front of his shop located under the high-tension wire.

According to eyewitnesses near the scene, the incident happened over the weekend, but the lifeless body of the victim, which was still lying on the ground, with the high-tension wire still lying on his body as of Tuesday, was still oozing out smoke, creating panic in the area.

This was corroborated by a video from the scene of the incident, currently trending on social media, showing the victim lying lifeless on the ground, with the high-tension wire still lying on his body, still oozing out smoke and sparks.

Although the full identity of the victim is yet to be ascertained, sources from the area said he recently got married.

The Managing Director/CEO of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, Ossy Onuko, who reacted to the development on Tuesday, described the incident as unfortunate, noting that such misfortunes are part of the reasons the agency carries out sensitisation and enforcement against building or trading under the high-tension wire.

Onuko also noted that during the sensitisation, people often criticise them for their enforcement against trading under the high tension wire.

He said, “This is something we have been campaigning against from time to time, that it is very dangerous to build or trade under the high-tension wire.

“It is part of the reasons why most times, on social media, we are vilified as being inhumane for trying to let people know that they cannot either build or trade under the tension.

“It is something very pathetic. It’s a suicide mission to have your shop or your kiosk or your roadside activities under the tension. The avoidable loss of life is unfortunate. It is sadly one example of many negative outcomes and resultant effects of such an act of negligence to safety.

“That should serve as a deterrent to others who still indulge in such prohibited acts. This should also make the public understand that the sensitisation and enforcement being carried out by ACTDA against such things are not to witch-hunt them, but for their safety.

“Unfortunately, we have lost a soul. I pray for the peaceful repose of this soul. But also, it should serve as a deterrent to others, that they shouldn’t just fold their arms and wait for us, when we come, they run away and return when we leave.

“People should see it as a personal responsibility to be safety conscious, and also enlighten others, not just themselves. No precious life is worth being lost to such a careless and avoidable death. A stitch in time saves nine.”
(PUNCH)

Metro

Cybercrime: Court Fines 21 Foreign Nationals N1m Each, Orders Deportation

Published

14 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday convicted 21 foreign nationals over high-level cybercrime, fining each of them N1 million.

The trial judge, Justice Ekerete Akpan, while delivering judgment on the plea bargain reached between the convicts and the Nigeria Police Force, ordered the immediate departure of all 21 of them from Nigeria within six working days.

The convicts are among 109 foreign nationals being prosecuted by the Inspector-General of Police over charges of cybercrime, money laundering, and actions deemed threats to Nigeria’s national security in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/599/2024.

The 21 convicted individuals are Yang Yang (33), Li Xiao Fen (41), Zheng Peng Zhan (28), Shu Huan (20), Jupanpan (25), Feng Guo (29), Zhao Yifan (31), Mahunan (26), Wang Yi Bo (24), Chen Yan Qi (26), and Shi Hao Jie (28), all represented in court by Linda Ikpeazu.

Others are Xiejang Bing (29), Zheng Jian Feng, Zheng Peng Fei (32), Wei Tang (32), Wang Hao (27), Cheng Xing (30), Yang Xu Gung (27), Zhu Jiu Hui (28), Xhou Kia Lai (28), and Tue Xue Fie (21, female), represented by Julius Mba.

The 109 defendants, from countries including China, Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand, were arraigned in 2024 on a six-count charge.

They initially pleaded not guilty and were remanded in Kuje and Keffi Correctional Centres, respectively, pending fulfilment of stringent bail conditions set on November 29, 2024, which included N1 billion bail and five sureties with N200 million worth of landed property each.

The Police alleged that the accused operated out of Plot 1906, Cadastral Zone 807, Katampe District, Abuja, where they were running a “fraudulent and unregistered gaming platform.”

One of the counts read that they “aided, abetted, conspired among themselves to commit an offence, to wit; cybercrime,” contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended 2024).

They were also charged with unlawful access to a computer network and input of inauthentic data, punishable under Section 13 of the Cybercrimes Act.

They were also accused of laundering proceeds generated from illegal platforms, including 9f.com, c2.top, and 8pg.top, in violation of Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The final charge accused the defendants of overstaying their 30-day business permits — an offence punishable under Section 44 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act, 2015.

Justice Akpan, in his judgment, held that the sentence was based on the agreed terms of the bargain.

“After the defendants entered the plea bargain agreement without being forced, I hereby convict you as charged.

“The sentence shall be based on the parties’ agreement of N1 million fine each, against each of the defendants which shall be paid before their release. They shall depart the country within six working days,” he said.

When asked if the fines had been paid, defence counsel, Linda Ikpeazu, told the court, “My lord, we are going to pay in the next five minutes.”

Justice Akpan also ordered that all gadgets used in the commission of the crimes be forfeited to the Federal Government.

Lead prosecuting counsel, A.A. Egwu, appeared for the Inspector-General of Police, while Ikpeazu and Mba represented different subsets of the 21 convicts.

The matter was adjourned to October 22nd and 23rd for the continuation of the trial of the remaining 88 defendants.
(PUNCH)