Coroner’s inquest into Peju Ugboma’s death to begin July 5

The coroner’s inquest into the death of Peju Ugboma, Lagos chef, has begun preliminary sitting.

The inquest is presided over by M.K.O Fadeyi at magistrate court 13, Samuel Ilori Curt House, Ogba, Ikeja.

Ugboma, aged 41, died on April 23 after her surgery at Premier Specialist Medical Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Her family had later alleged that their daughter died due to the negligence of health officials at the hospital, where she had undergone the surgery for fibroid but later suffered internal bleeding.

In the heat of the public outrage that followed, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) had vowed to investigate possible violations of patient and consumer rights in Ugboma’s case.

On Monday, the coroner’s inquest towards ascertaining the circumstances surrounding her death was initiated.

Olisa Agbakoba Legal, acting on the instructions of Ijoma Ugboma, had requested an inquest. In response, the chief coroner of Lagos appointed Fadeyi.

At the preliminary sitting, Fadeyi gave a general guideline on the nature of the procedure he is adopting and directed the inquest to commence on July 5, 2021.

Premier Hospital earlier declined to respond to media enquiries on the death case, citing client confidentiality.

Doctors at the hospital initially failed to testify at FCCPC’s hearing in the absence of their chief medical officer, claiming that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) had ordered them not to speak on the case.