The family of Akubo Lovelyn John and the management of Gynescope Specialist Hospital in Lagos are locked in a dispute over her death hours after childbirth.
Lovelyn, who gave birth at the private facility, died in the early hours of December 4, 2025. Her family alleges medical negligence, delayed referral and mishandling during a medical emergency. The hospital strongly denies the claims.
Speaking at a press briefing in Ikeja on Tuesday, her husband, Justice John, described the death as avoidable. He said the couple had been married for less than a year.
John said his wife registered for antenatal care at the hospital in her 13th week of pregnancy. He said they attended all appointments and paid N450,000 for antenatal services, excluding external tests requested by the hospital.
“All tests came back normal,” he said. “My wife had no underlying health condition before or during pregnancy.”
He said concerns were raised during the third trimester about the baby’s size. John said he suggested an elective caesarean section, but the attending consultant dismissed the option and assured them vaginal delivery was safe.
Lovelyn went into labour on December 1 and was admitted the following day. By December 3, she was moved to the labour ward and labour was induced, John said.
She delivered vaginally later that day. The baby weighed 4.2 kilograms, a size classified medically as fetal macrosomia.
John said his wife soon complained of internal fluid movement and began bleeding. He alleged that her condition deteriorated rapidly.
“She became pale and unconscious while the bleeding continued,” he said. “Five pints of blood were infused without identifying the source of the bleeding.”
John alleged there was a 15-hour gap between delivery and his wife’s death. He said the hospital delayed referring her to another facility.
He also alleged that she fell from a stretcher while being moved from the third floor during referral preparations. He demanded the release of CCTV footage from the hospital.
John called on the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and the Lagos State Government to investigate the incident.
Officials of the Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch, also called for a probe. The NBA chairman, Uchenna Akingbade, said the association would support efforts to establish the facts.
Gynescope Specialist Hospital rejected the allegations.
Speaking by phone, Professor Jude Okohue said the hospital acted appropriately and promptly. He denied claims of delayed referral or negligence.
“It is not true that she was not referred on time,” Okohue said. “Before referral, a patient must be stabilised, and that was what we did.”
He said Lovelyn delivered successfully and was stable for hours afterward. According to him, complications developed later in the evening.
“She even ate pepper soup brought by a relative,” he said. “Then we noticed abnormal bleeding.”
Okohue said two hospital staff donated blood in an effort to save her life. He described the bleeding as unusual and unrelated directly to pregnancy.
He denied claims that she fell from a stretcher. He said she insisted on using the toilet despite being advised otherwise and was assisted by staff.
Okohue said the family requested an autopsy at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. He welcomed a coroner’s inquest.
“We have nothing to hide,” he said. “We did not commit any infraction.”
He added that he visited the family after the incident and was surprised by the public accusations.
As investigations are awaited, the case has raised fresh concerns over maternal care, emergency response and accountability in private healthcare facilities.
