Patient Drags Lagos Hospital through Court, Seeks ₦800m for Alleged Medical Negligence

A Lagos-based architect, Mr. Alfred Ogene, has filed a high-stakes lawsuit against R-Jolad Hospital Nigeria Limited, alleging gross medical negligence that he claims left him with permanent damage to his urinary system and plunged him into severe physical, emotional, and economic distress.

In a Memorandum of Claim filed by his lawyers, Mr. Ogene is seeking over ₦800 million in damages, including compensation for pain and suffering, loss of earnings, loss of enjoyment of life, psychological trauma, and a refund of medical expenses allegedly incurred as a result of the hospital’s actions.

According to court documents, Mr. Ogene was admitted to R-Jolad Hospital in the early hours of November 15, 2025, for the management of partial paralysis following a stroke that affected his right limbs.

His lawyers maintain that before admission, he had no history of urinary dysfunction.

Due to his limited mobility, a urinary catheter was inserted to assist urination.

However, the claimant alleges that complications emerged within 24 hours. He reportedly noticed abnormal urine leakage and experienced excruciating groin pain after a catheter change carried out by a nurse.

Despite repeated complaints, the hospital staff—particularly a nurse identified as Nurse Elizabeth—allegedly dismissed his concerns, assuring him the pain was normal. His condition, the claim states, rapidly deteriorated, resulting in abdominal swelling, acute distress, and eventual medical emergency.

The lawsuit hinges on an alleged breach of duty of care, a central obligation imposed on healthcare providers to act in accordance with accepted medical standards.

Specifically, the claimant alleges that:

The catheter was wrongly inserted and poorly managed

Warning signs of complications were ignored or downplayed

Timely medical intervention was delayed, leading to acute urinary retention

Emergency procedures, including suprapubic bladder drainage, were only performed after serious injury had already occurred

Under Nigerian tort law, a claimant must establish the existence of a duty of care, a breach of that duty, and a direct causal link between the breach and the injury suffered. Mr. Ogene’s legal team argues that all three elements are clearly established in this case.

The Memorandum of Claim further asserts that the alleged negligence caused extensive trauma to the bladder and urethra, leaving the claimant dependent on a catheter and unable to resume normal personal, professional, or ministerial duties.

The hospital’s indifference and aloofness over their mishandling of Mr Ogene’s case only makes things worse.

Mr. Ogene, who has over 40 years’ experience as a consultant architect claims to have suffered:

Permanent urinary impairment

Psychological trauma and humiliation

Loss of marital intimacy

Inability to earn income

Inability to undertake physiotherapy essential for stroke recovery

An independent consultant urologist, according to the claim, has confirmed that the injuries are consistent with catheter-related trauma.

Among the reliefs sought are:

₦500 million in general damages for alleged negligent treatment

₦100 million for mental and psychological trauma

₦200 million for loss of enjoyment of life

₦10 million monthly from December 2025 to 2042 as loss of earnings

Refund of hospital bills and legal costs

The claimant has also proposed Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as a pathway to amicable settlement, warning that failure to engage would result in full-scale litigation.

Reacting to the suit, R-Jolad Hospital, through its Customer Service Officer, Ayomide Olayiwola, confirmed awareness of the complaint and said the matter had been escalated for internal investigation.

The hospital stated it could not comment on specific allegations due to patient confidentiality obligations but maintained that all complaints undergo clinical audits, internal reviews, and management oversight in accordance with its quality assurance and clinical governance standards.

The case adds to the growing scrutiny of medical practice standards in Nigeria and highlights the legal exposure healthcare institutions face when allegations of negligence arise. Legal observers note that the outcome could further shape jurisprudence on patients’ rights, professional accountability, and the scope of compensation for medical injury.

If it proceeds to trial, the suit is expected to test the evidentiary threshold for medical negligence claims and the scale of damages recoverable under Nigerian law.