Four staff members of Cottage Hospital in Iloffa, Kwara State, have been arraigned in connection with a missing baby placenta and umbilical cord. The suspects, including Dr. Ajibola Joseph, Matron Olanrewaju Joseph, nurse Peace Alabi, and ward attendant Toyin Adewumi, appeared before two Magistrates Courts in Ilorin on Wednesday and Thursday.
The issue arose after Mrs. Bukola Williams, a teacher at Orota Community Secondary School, reported to the police that the placenta and umbilical cord of her daughter, delivered at the hospital, were missing. She claimed the hospital staff gave her a black nylon bag that did not contain these items upon discharge.
Dr. Ajibola Joseph and Matron Olanrewaju Joseph were charged with negligence under Section 196 of the Penal Code Law of Nigeria. Magistrate A A Issa granted them bail and adjourned their case until June 26, 2024.
In a separate session, Chief Magistrate Qudus Adebayo denied bail to nurse Peace Alabi and ward attendant Toyin Adewumi due to the sensitive nature of the matter, despite the court lacking jurisdiction. They were ordered to be remanded at the Federal Correctional Facility in Ilorin, with their case adjourned to June 13, 2024.
