Two Minors Allegedly Detained In Delta Hospital Over N400,000 Medical Bills

The International Federation of Female Lawyers, IFFL, Delta State Branch on Wednesday October accused Royal Clinic in Udu Local Government Area of allegedly detaining two minors, Caryn Erikhioya (16yrs) and Great Favour (14 years) for eight months against their wish over unsettled N400,000 (four hundred thousand naira) medical bills.

IFFL chairperson, Mary Akujobi who led a team of female lawyers, disclosed that the two girls were knocked down from a commercial motorcycle along Udu Expressway by one Alfred Ogboru since January.

Akujobi claimed that the two girls sustained grievous bodily injuries with one of them having a fractured leg.

Akukobi stated that the victims were rushed to the hospital for treatment by the same Alfred Ogboru, who deposited twenty thousand naira with a promise to take full responsibility of the medical bills.

Akujobi claimed that Ogboru later abandoned the girls in the hospital, which he allegedly claimed to be his private clinic and refused to pay the medical bills.‎
Akujobi stated that the continued detention of the two girls who cannot speak for themselves under the law of contract was “unlawful”.

“We want their immediate release because it is unacceptable. Their lives are being wasted here,” she said.

Akujobi who was flanked by Mrs. Cynthia Onyegurlae, Mrs. Jeromah Olugida, Mrs. Fejiro Itesah Edafe and Mr. Joshua Omorere, President of the Nigerian Child Welfare Fund vowed that her organization will take the girls out of the hospital.

However, the Medical Director of Royal Hospital who was simply identified as Dr. Owata faulted the claims of Akujobi saying, “your choice of words are wrong.
“They were not kidnapped. They were brought to the hospital for treatment and that we did.”
Owata challenged her to go to court over the matter.

He pointed out that the said Ogboru agreed to take full responsibility of the medical bills incurred but later abandoned the girls at the hospital.
The doctor noted that efforts to reach Alfred Ogboru who before now had been patronizing the hospital were futile.

Owata said the grand mother of the two girls promised to take responsibility of the medical bills when Alfred Ogboru disappeared after dropping his particulars.

As of the time of filing this report, the two sisters are still confined to a room in the hospital.

Get more stories like this on Twitter & Facebook