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Sylva, five others arraigned, officers’ wives seek justice over alleged coup plot

Published

5 months ago

April 22, 2026

The Federal Government will on Wednesday (today) arraign six individuals, including two retired senior military officers and a serving police inspector, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over an alleged coup plot to wage war against Nigeria and overthrow the President.

The defendants — retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani — are billed to appear before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

Also named in the charge but said to be at large is former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.

The defendants are facing 13 counts bordering on conspiracy, attempt to commit treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence, financing terrorism and money laundering.

The charge, filed on Monday by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), accused them of offences ranging from alleged attempts to overthrow the government to terrorism-related financing.

According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2025 “to levy war against the state to overpower the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

They are also accused of failing to report alleged knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others.

The government further alleged that the defendants “knowing that a treasonable act was intended to be committed, did not give information thereof with all reasonable despatch to either the President… or a Peace Officer.”

They were also accused of failing to prevent the alleged offence, stating that they “did not use any reasonable endeavours to prevent the commission of the offence.”

Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru were also accused of attending meetings allegedly linked to the plot “in a bid to further a political ideology which may seriously destabilise the constitutional structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The charge further alleged that the defendants “knowingly and indirectly, rendered support” for acts of terrorism and also failed to disclose critical intelligence to security agencies.

Abdulkadir Sani was accused of receiving N2m on September 23, 2025, while Bukar Kashim Goni allegedly retained N50m from accounts linked to A & A Express Link Concept.

Zekeri Umoru was also accused of receiving N10m cash from Colonel Ma’aji and retaining N8.8m in his account, while Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim allegedly received N1m from the same source.

The offences, according to the charge, contravene Sections 37(2), 40(b), 26(1), 2(3)(d), 12(a), 13(1)(a), and 16(1)(a)(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as well as provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Alleged coup probe

The development comes amid widening investigations into an alleged coup plot that has already led to arrests within the military and security circles.

In October 2025, the Federal Government cancelled the Independence Day parade, a move later linked in reports to the alleged plot.

The Defence Headquarters, however, dismissed any connection.

Weeks later, authorities confirmed the arrest of 16 military officers, while two others were declared wanted.

In January 2026, the Defence Headquarters confirmed that an internal investigation had established a plan to overthrow President Bola Tinubu, adding that suspects would face military disciplinary panels.

Families of detained officers have since staged protests and demanded transparency, access to their relatives, and speedy trial.

Court martial

Meanwhile, The PUNCH gathered that the military has set up a court martial to try serving personnel allegedly implicated in the case.

The serving military personnel reportedly detained are Brig Gen M. A. Sadiq, Col M. A. Maaji, Lt Col S. Bappah, Lt Col A. A. Hayatu, Lt Col P. Dangnap, Lt Col M. Almakura, Maj A. J. Ibrahim, Maj M. M. Jiddah, Maj M. A. Usman, Maj D. Yusuf, Capt I. Bello, Capt A. A. Yusuf, Lt S. S. Felix, Lt Cdr D. B. Abdullahi, Sqn Ldr S. B. Adamu and Maj I. Dauda.

Reliable sources confirmed that the panel will be constituted today to begin proceedings.

It was also gathered that detained officers have, for the first time since their arrest, been granted access to their lawyers.

Wives demand clarity, fairness

One of the campaigners for the detained officers’ families, Nana Usman, said there was confusion over who was being arraigned in court and who would face military trial.

Nana is wife to one of the detained senior officers, Lt. Col Sadiq Mohammed.

She said, “Our husbands are not among those being taken to the Federal High Court tomorrow (today). Those are retired military men and top police officers from what we heard.

“We heard our spouses will face a court-martial from tomorrow (today). I may not be able to say much until we see how proceedings go. That’s also partly because there is no official communication from the military.

“We were only to bring their lawyers to see them today (Tuesday) and prepare ahead for the trial. But whatever it is, we just hope the judgment will be fair. I am also surprised to see them grant the lawyers access to finally see them seven months after their arrest.

“Remember when we (serving officers wives) granted an interview with The PUNCH, we told you specifically that members of their families and the lawyers were denied access to see them.

“Although allowing them access to their lawyers is a good development, we are just hoping they will be fair in their judgment.”

Wives and relatives of detained officers have continued protests, demanding fair trial and access to their loved ones, insisting that they have been held without clear communication for months.

They maintain that their demand is for justice and transparency, not interference in judicial processes.

Recently, children of some of the detained officers staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly, calling for a speedy trial and the release of their fathers. The young demonstrators held placards with inscriptions such as “Don’t Kill Our Daddies,” “Detention Without Trial is Injustice,” and “Six Months of Torture: Enough Is Enough.”

“I find this whole coup allegation very surprising. I still don’t believe that my husband can be explained into even doing what he is being accused of. He’s someone who really holds his family values very dearly. He does not want anything that would dent his reputation or his family values,” Lt Col M. A. Al-Makura’s wife Shafa’atu Ali Agbo, said.

Possible death penalty – SANs

Senior lawyers have weighed in on the possible consequences facing the defendants if convicted.

Mike Ahamba (SAN) said treason-related offences attracted the most severe punishments under the Nigerian law.

“Every treasonable trial case could carry a death sentence or life imprisonment or long term imprisonment, depending on the facts of this case. If it’s treason, it’s a very serious offense in any country, and that’s exactly what they are facing.

“It depends on what they are charged with and what evidence they have against them. Those who heard and did not report may not get the same sentence as those who participated in planning the coup. They are all offenses.

So let us listen to the evidence they have against them, that’s what’s important,” he stated.

Bankole Akomolafe (SAN) also shared his view.

“It is a death sentence (if found guilty) even though the judge may exercise his power to commute it to a life sentence. But generally, treason attracts death sentence,” he said.

He explained that the judge may decide to issue a lesser sentence on defendants who only committed borderline offenses, adding however that under the criminal code, the death sentence had not been abrogated for those with more severe offenses.

“If you look at our criminal code since they are going to try them at the Federal High Court, if anybody is able to prove that his own is a borderline, not fully involved, the judge may apply discretion to give them lesser sentence – long term imprisonment like 20, 15, 10 years and so on.

“But those that will be found directly culpable and all that, it doesn’t matter that they are under a civilian regime, death sentence has not been abrogated from our law, even though the Judges are skeptical and the state governors too. But it is still part of our law. The maximum sentence is death,” Akomolafe stated.

Other senior lawyers, including Sam Erugo (SAN), Olu Daramola (SAN) and Aare Isiaka Olagunju (SAN), also said the accused could face death penalty if convicted of treason, though appellate rights remain intact.

Erugo stressed that conviction would depend on whether treason or a lesser offence is proven, while Daramola noted that punishment would vary based on established charges.

Olagunju added that treason remains a capital offence under Nigerian law.

“If they are found guilty, they will be sentenced to death if the charge is treason. That is the oldest provision in our criminal law, dating back to the pre-independence era and retained in the Criminal Code Act,” he said.

According to him, defendants in such serious criminal cases retain the right of appeal up to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, which must be exhausted before any sentence can be carried out.

“It will not be like a military process. This is a regular court. They will go through the Court of Appeal and up to the Supreme Court,” he said.

He added that the determination of punishment ultimately depends on the exact legal charge proven in court, particularly whether the prosecution secures a conviction for treason rather than a lesser related offence.

Similarly, Olu Daramola, SAN, said that the fate of individuals accused of plotting to overthrow the government will depend on the specific offence established against them under Nigerian law.

Speaking in a telephone interview ahead of the suspects’ planned arraignment, Daramola explained that while treason-related offences are treated with utmost seriousness, the applicable punishment varies depending on the nature of the charge.

“They are going to be arraigned tomorrow. If the prosecution succeeds and they are convicted, whether they will be sentenced to death or life imprisonment depends on the offence proved,” he said.

“The kind of treason where people are plotting to overthrow the government can actually attract a death sentence,” he added.

However, the senior lawyer expressed uncertainty over whether the current legal framework differs significantly from the military-era decrees under which past coup plotters were tried.

Also the Chairman of Egbe Amofin Oodua, Aare Isiaka Olagunju (SAN), said that if the defendants are found guilty of plotting a coup in Nigeria they may face the death penalty, in line with existing criminal laws.

Olagunju, said the law is clear on the punishment for treason, noting that where the prosecution successfully proves such a charge, the court is empowered to impose the maximum penalty.

“The law provides for death sentence in cases of treason. Where such an offence is established before the court, the punishment is clearly spelt out,” he said.

The senior lawyer further noted that while the law prescribes strict penalties, any accused person would still be entitled to a fair hearing and the full benefit of the judicial process.

CHARGES AGAINST DEFENDANTS

COUNT 1

“That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA -(RTD), CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR -(RTD), INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM(AP776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, TIMPRE SYLVA (still at large) and others, sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired with one another to levy war against the state to overawe the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code Cap C38 LFN 2004.

COUNT 2

“That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA -(RTD), CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR -(RTD), INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM(AP776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM ONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, TIMPRE SYLVA(still at large) and others, sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this hourable Court, knowing that COLONEL MOHAMMED ALHASSAN MA’AJI (N/10668) and others intended to commit treason, did not give he information thereof with all reasonable despatch to either the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, or a Peace Officer and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 40(b) of the Criminal Code Cap C38 LFN 2004.

COUNT 3

“That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA -(RTD), CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR -(RTD), INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM(AP776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, TIMPRE SYLVA(still at large) and others, sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, knowing that COLONEL MOHAMMED ALHASSAN MA‘AJI (N/10668), and others intended to commit treason, did not use any reasonable endeavours to prevent the commission of the offence and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 40(b) of the Criminal Code Cap C 38 (LFN) 2004.

COUNT 4

“That you MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA -(RTD), CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR -(RTD), INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM(AP776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, TIMPRE SYLVA(still at large) and others, sometime in the year 2025 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired with one another to commit an act of terrorism in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

COUNT 5

“That you, INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM(AP 776373) AND ZEKERI UMORU, sometime in the year 2025 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, in a bid to further a political ideology which may seriously destabilize the constitutional structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, knowingly participated in meetings connected with an act of terrorism and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 2(3)(d) and 12(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

COUNT 6

“That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA -(RTD), CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR -(RTD), INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM(AP 776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, AND TIMPRE SYLVA(still at large), sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly and indirectly, rendered support to COLONEL MOHAMMED ALHASSAN MA‘AJI (N/10668) and others, to commit an act of terrorism, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 13(1) (a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

COUNT 7

“That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA -(RTD), CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR -(RTD), INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM(AP 776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, AND TIMPRE SYLVA(still at large), sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court had information which you knew would be of material assistance in pventing the commission of the act of terrorism by COLONEL OHAMMED ALHASSAN MA’AJI (N/10668), and others, failed to lose the information to the relevant agency as soon as practicable, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 6(1)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

COUNT 8

“That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA -(RTD), CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR -(RTD), INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM(AP 776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, AND TIMPRE SYLVA(still at large), sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court had information which you knew would be of material assistance to securing the apprehension of COLONEL MOHAMMED ALHASSAN MA’AJI (N/10668), and others for an offence of terrorism, failed to disclose the information to the relevant agency as soon as practicable, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 16(1){b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

COUNT 9

“That you, ABDULKADIR SANI, on or about the 23% day of September,2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, indirectly retained the sum of N2,000,000.00(Two Million Naira) only in your Jaiz Bank Account Number 0005620270 from A & A Express Link Concept, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: terrorism financing, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act,2022 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.

COUNT 10

“That you, BUKAR KASHIM GONI, in September,2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, indirectly retained the aggregate sum of N50,000,000.00( Fifty Million Naira) only in your First Bank Account Number 3021511166 from A & A Express Link Concept, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: terrorism financing, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act,2022 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.

COUNT 11

“That you, ZEKERI UMORU, in September,2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, without going through a financial institution accepted a cash payment of the sum of N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) only from Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Maa‘aji and thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 2(1)(a) and 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act,2022 and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.

COUNT 12

“That you, ZEKERI UMORU, in September,2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, indirectly retained the aggregate sum of N8,800,000.00(Eight Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) only in your Zenith Bank Plc Account Number 2006041878, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: terrorism financing, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act,2022 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.

COUNT 13

“That you, INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM, in September, 2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, directly took possession of the sum of N1,000,000.00(One Million Naira) only from COLONEL MOHAMMED ALHASSAN MA’AJI (N/ 10668), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: terrorism financing, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section | (2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act,2022 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.

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News

Trump sends envoys to Moscow, Kyiv with new plan to ‘end war’

Published

1 day ago

September 5, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

US President Donald Trump said Friday he is sending envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv with a plan to end more than four years of war in Ukraine.

The move marks Washington’s latest bid to break a diplomatic stalemate in Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

A senior Ukrainian official told AFP the envoys were due in Kyiv on Sunday.

US outlet Axios reported they would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday, and then President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Sunday. The Kremlin declined to comment.

Trump told reporters that the two negotiators would seek to gauge whether progress towards peace was possible.

Peace efforts have stalled due to Washington’s war with Iran, while Moscow and Kyiv have intensified long-range attacks, driving up civilian casualties to levels not seen since the start of fighting.

“I sent Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, two great negotiators. They’ve done a great job, and we sent them over to see whether or not we can get something done. And there may be a good chance that we’ll do it,” Trump said.

“They’re bringing with them a proposal to end the war,” he said.

The US president would not say whether the plan involved Ukraine ceding territory as he has previously suggested, but added: “We have an idea for peace.”

It will be the first time that Trump’s businessman friend Witkoff and son-in-law Kushner have visited war-torn Kyiv since Trump returned to office last year with a pledge to resolve the conflict.

Witkoff and Kushner, who have been involved in negotiations for ceasefires in Gaza and Iran, have travelled repeatedly to Moscow in previous attempts at diplomacy.

– Grinding war –

The renewed push for diplomacy comes as Russia and Ukraine pummel each other with long-range missile and drone attacks.

Just hours before Trump’s announcement, a Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s SBU security service in central Kyiv, according to Zelensky.

The strike, which Zelensky said was aimed at the office of the agency’s acting chief, was the first on its headquarters since the start of the invasion.

Despite the unprecedented nature of the strike, the Ukrainian president proposed observing a ceasefire with Russia for the duration of the US envoys’ trip.

“There will be no airstrikes on our part, and Russia must reciprocally ensure a ceasefire — without its own airstrikes — for the duration needed to conduct these talks,” he said in his evening address.

Russia did not immediately comment on the proposal.

Hours later, Oleksandr Ganzha, head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional military administration, said a Russian strike killed four people and wounded five in the southeastern city of Kamianske.

Zelensky had said on Wednesday that Russian airspace would be “completely unsafe” and filled with Ukrainian drones as long as Moscow continued its war.

Witkoff and Kusher’s trip comes more than week after a rare visit to Moscow by CIA director John Ratcliffe, who warned Russia against any attack on NATO member states, according to US media.

Earlier this week, the United States welcomed the Russian finance minister at a G20 gathering in North Carolina.

AFP

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News

Hamilton seeks to become first black driver to win for Ferrari in Italy

Published

2 days ago

September 4, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Lewis Hamilton says he has been reflecting on the significance of potentially becoming the first black Formula 1 driver to win for Ferrari at the Italian Grand Prix as he targets his maiden victory for the team at Monza this weekend.

The seven-time world champion, in his second season with Ferrari, said the possibility of breaking new ground at the team’s home race had been among his thoughts ahead of the Italian Grand Prix.

According to Sky Sports News on Thursday, Hamilton had already won at Monza five times in his career, but none of those victories came in Ferrari colours.

“Winning in Monza for the first time with Ferrari is something I’ve witnessed Charles [Leclerc] win in 2019, when I was on the podium with him. But to do it while I’m here would be phenomenal.

“And the thought of if I did do that, probably I would be the only black driver to ever do that for Ferrari in Italy probably in history, maybe, and so just like a lot of those thoughts have been through my mind,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton’s first Ferrari Grand Prix victory came in Barcelona in June, boosting his hopes of challenging for the championship in his second campaign with the Italian team.

He currently trails Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli by 59 points with 11 rounds remaining, while his prospects at Monza have been further strengthened by Antonelli’s grid penalty for exceeding his permitted engine-part allocation.

Reflecting on the significance of another potential victory at the circuit, Hamilton said: “I’ve really thought coming into this weekend, as I pondered, just thinking of the sheer magnitude of the concept that I’m coming to this Grand Prix, I didn’t even know that I had I was equal with Michael [Schumacher] on [five Monza] wins, for example.”

“But the thought that there’s a first ahead of me, in the sense that potentially, if I was to win, you go into new territory.

Hamilton also acknowledged the pressure that comes with racing Ferrari at its home event, where thousands of passionate supporters known as the Tifosi are expected to attend.

“The pressure is high. You also want to deliver for the team. There’s all those people at the factory, many of them will get to come to this race, the Tifosi, who come in huge numbers and the passion is unmatched, and you want to deliver for them as well,” he said.

Hamilton will also have his mother at Monza, adding another personal dimension to the weekend.

The F1 hero said, “And my mum’s here this weekend because I don’t think she’s been to Monza, but also particularly on a Ferrari weekend. I wanted her to experience that and you know bring any of the lucky dust she can bring.”

Engine upgrade won’t recover ‘whole gap’

Hamilton’s chances of challenging for victory have also been boosted by Ferrari’s latest engine upgrade, with the team confirming it had used its second permitted opportunity of the season to improve its power unit.

Ferrari’s engine deficit to Mercedes has been one of its weaknesses this season, and Hamilton said the upgrade could help narrow the gap, although he did not expect it to eliminate the deficit entirely.

“Every little helps, and I think up until this point of the year we’ve been losing, even in the last race on such a short circuit we were losing four tenths a lap through the race. That’s a huge deficit and we’ve carried that through the year to this point.

He praised the work being done by Ferrari’s staff, saying he had noticed a greater sense of direction within the team compared with his first season.

“What I can say is I’m really proud when I go back to the factory and see how hard everyone is working. They’re really just heads down, and everyone’s so enthusiastic.

“I see a different focus this year to last year. Last year, I felt like there wasn’t really a north star. We were doing the best we could, but not really knowing exactly what we were trying to aim for. Now we have a north star, and we know where we need to work towards,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton said the latest upgrade represented progress but acknowledged that Ferrari still had ground to make up.

“I think they’ve done a tremendous job to really pull together and deliver. This is a step forward, it’s not the whole gap that we need but we knew that would be the case.

“But to see bits coming each weekend, adding to the car, it’s exciting to see that we are pushing and I strongly still believe that we’ve got what it takes to win,” he concluded.

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Lagos denies woman’s hospital delay, POS extortion claims

Published

2 days ago

September 4, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Lagos State Ministry of Health has debunked claims that officials of Randle General Hospital delayed treatment and attempted to extort money from a vulnerable patient, saying the woman who made the allegation also gave the wrong age of her daughter.

The ministry, in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, on Thursday, said its investigation established that the patient, Alimat Oshodi, is 21 years old and not 13 as claimed in a viral social media post.

According to the ministry, Alimat first presented at the hospital’s Mother and Child Centre on August 4, 2026, as an emergency case requiring immediate medical intervention.

It said she received life-saving emergency care under the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care programme at no cost to her family and was discharged on August 11.

“The initial value of the emergency care provided was ₦75,950, free of charge,” the statement said.

The ministry said Alimat returned to the hospital on August 27 for follow-up care and investigations, after which the hospital’s Social Welfare Unit provided ₦5,000 on August 28 and another ₦13,000 on August 31 towards subsequent investigations.

It added that the patient contributed ₦10,000, while the total state assistance provided to her stood at ₦93,950.

Explaining the controversy over a Point of Sale transaction, the ministry said the patient sought a refund of the ₦13,000 already paid on her behalf by the Hospital Welfare Fund after an NGO offered to cover the cost.

“She was informed that Social Welfare payments could not be refunded at the Paypoint in accordance with established procedure,” the ministry said.

The ministry said the case demonstrated that the state’s social health protection mechanisms had been applied to ensure that financial difficulties did not prevent the patient from receiving necessary care.

It listed the mechanisms as Ilera Eko, hospital-based Social Welfare support and the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care programme.

“This investigation has established the facts surrounding the incident and confirms that the State’s social health protection mechanisms work seamlessly and, in this case, provide timely support at no cost to the patient when she required emergency care to the tune of ₦93,950,” Abayomi said.

He said the findings were contrary to the impression created by the social media post that a Lagos State government hospital was trying to delay access to care and extort money from a vulnerable patient.

PUNCH Online had reported that controversy followed a social media post by Mrs Oshodi, who alleged that hospital officials delayed treatment and demanded money from her daughter, whom she claimed was 13 and in need of urgent medical intervention.

The post went viral on social media, prompting the Lagos State Ministry of Health to investigate the circumstances surrounding the patient’s treatment.

The ministry said its investigation established that the patient was 21 and had received emergency treatment as well as subsequent financial assistance from the government.

It added that it was improving payment processes across public hospitals through the rollout of the Smart Health Information Platform and regular audits of fee collection practices.

The Lagos State Sports Commission also intervened in the case of her daughter, a young squash player, Mariam Oshodi, who missed a tournament after she complained that some officials of a local government allegedly locked up her shop where her daughter’s sports equipment was kept.

The Director-General of the commission, Lekan Fatodu, on Wednesday met with Mrs Oshodi and her daughter, following the viral video in which she expressed frustration over the circumstances that prevented her daughter from participating in a regional tournament.

Mariam, who represents Lagos State in squash in the U-15 category, was reportedly unable to assess her squash racket after the shop where it was kept was locked by officials of Surulere Local Government.

According to the mother, the officials usually cite environmental concerns for such actions, despite their efforts to keep the surroundings clean.

In the viral TikTok video, Kafayat alleged that while she was out of town, her daughter took some of the medals she had won in previous competitions to the local government office in an attempt to convince the officials of the importance of the racket to her sporting career.

She alleged that the officials nevertheless refused to give the young athlete access to the shop.

Responding to the concerns, Fatodu assured the family that the commission would immediately engage the government entity involved in the incident to prevent a recurrence.

He also outlined mid- and long-term measures, including the activation of a robust policy framework to mitigate similar circumstances, improved communication channels between the commission, parents and young athletes, and increased awareness among ministries, departments and agencies on the need to protect and support emerging sporting talents.

Source: punchng.com

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