The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State has convicted a medical doctor and founder of Medcontour Medical and Laser Hospital, Dr. Anuoluwapo Adepoju, who conducted a failed plastic surgery that resulted in the death of one Nneka Onwuzuligbo in 2019.
This was disclosed by a former Director-General of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Babatunde Irukera on Friday.
Irukera had tweeted via his X handle @TundeIrukera: “Today is a day of pride for me that I personally prosecuted Anu Adepoju & her medical practice. Though I’ve left, the case has ended in a conviction, strengthening the accountability framework for all in society, professionals or otherwise. This is how society should work & grow.
“Dr. Anu Adepoju & her medical practice convicted in all 5 counts charged by FCCPC. The wheel of justice may grind slow, but we must see it through. What we need are enforced with audacity & will to prosecute competently & diligently. Good day for consumers of professional services.”
Justice Mohammed Liman found Adepoju guilty and gave her the option of paying a sum of N100,000, instead of the jail term
FCCPC arraigned Adepoju in 2020 on five counts before Justice Mohammed Liman. The FCCPC accused the cosmetic surgeon of shunning summons by the agency to appear and produce a certain document.
In his ruling, Justice Mohammed Liman found her guilty and gave her the option of paying a sum of N100,000, instead of the jail term.
It may be recalled that, in July 2020, United States-based Vivian Onwuzuligbo, older sister of the late Nneka Miriam Barbra Onwuzuligbo, explained the situation that eventually led to the death of her younger sister, Nneka.
Dr. Anuoluwapo became fully registered as a medical practitioner on April 4, 2019, two months after my sister has died
She narrates: I first learned about Dr. Anuoluwapo Adepoju when Nneka was in the Intensive Care Unit at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital [LUTH], where she was taken to after complications from the surgery performed on her by Dr. Anuoluwapo at her facility, Medcontour.
This surgery was performed on Nneka on December 31, 2018, when Dr. Anuoluwapo was still a house officer with the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos.
Dr. Anuoluwapo became fully registered as a medical practitioner on April 4, 2019, two months after my sister has died. And this is all documented in a letter by the Lagos State Government Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation (HEFAMA) Board, dated 18 May, 2020.
The letter showed that she applied with a senior doctor as the operating officer, while she would be the proprietor. The letter also stated that when Dr. Anuoluwapo applied to register Medcontour Medical and Laser Hospital in 2018, she did not have the requisite five-year experience.
The surgery was performed on Nneka on December 31, 2018, when Dr. Anuoluwapo was still a house officer with the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos
I learned from a family member that the late Nneka met Dr. Anuoluwapo through Instagram, where she (Anuoluwapo) had, in early 2019, presented herself as a cosmetic and plastic surgeon. She is now presenting herself as just a cosmetic surgeon. What necessitated the change in the description? My late sister underwent the surgery on December 31, 2018, at Medcontour, Lekki, Lagos.
My late sister developed difficulty in breathing within 24 hours after the surgery performed on her by Dr. Anuoluwapo of Medcontour. She was put on oxygen by the nurses at Medcontour. On the third day, January 3, 2019, Nneka was still not getting better and a family member who was with her insisted that they do something to help Nneka.
Dr. Anuoluwapo eventually came that day and Nneka was taken to LUTH in an ambulance, with my [other] sister driving behind them. I am still in shock that a referral letter from the General Hospital, Odan, was presented to LUTH by Dr. Anuoluwapo on arrival at LUTH’s emergency unit.
My late sister developed difficulty in breathing within 24 hours after the surgery -Victim’s older sister Vivian
To clarify, Nneka was never taken to the General Hospital, Odan. She was taken in an ambulance directly from Medcontour, Lekki, to LUTH. My question to the public is: can a hospital refer a patient they never saw? How did Dr. Anuoluwapo get hold of the letterhead of the General Hospital, Odan?
I have since learned that she was doing her house job in that same hospital at the same period she performed the surgery on the late Nneka at her facility, Medcontour. This supposed referral letter was presented on January 3, 2019, the same date that my late sister was admitted at LUTH from Medcontour.
My sister died as a result of the cosmetic surgery. We watched a horrifying video of Dr. Anuoluwapo performing the surgery on the late Nneka. Dr. Anuoluwapo repeatedly placed and retrieved surgical equipment from soiled body drape placed over the lower part of Nneka’s body, which she then inserted into Nneka.
Dr. Anuoluwapo, who handled the procedure herself, did not wear standard sterile scrubs, hair covering or surgical masks
None of the personnel engaged in carrying out the process wore standard sterilised gowns or standard coverings for their hair. In particular, Dr. Anuoluwapo, who handled the procedure herself, did not wear standard sterile scrubs, hair covering or surgical masks.
The late Nneka was not properly covered with sterile drapes with appropriate openings for the surgical sites. Throughout the procedure, Dr. Anuoluwapo played deafening and high tempo music and thereby created an uncomfortable disco environment that interfered with voice communications in the operating room.
The autopsy result of my late sister showed that Nneka died as a result of infections she got during the surgery. Also, my late sister developed difficulty breathing within 24 hours after surgery while at Medcontour. She (deceased) never walked to LUTH; she was taken there in an ambulance.
The autopsy result of my late sister showed that Nneka died as a result of infections she got during the surgery
Concerning the kind of treatment Nneka received at LUTH, Vivian said, “She was intubated and placed on a ventilator. She also had two surgeries at LUTH to evacuate the infected and decaying fat in her. Dr. Anuoluwapo had grafted dead, unviable fat into my sister’s body.
Vivian also said that Nneka did not have an underlying ailment before she went in for the surgery. She only had Steven Johnson Syndrome, which makes one react to sulphur in drugs. She told the doctor about this during the consultation period in the presence of a family member and Dr. Anuoluwapo said it was okay.
It is not immediately known if Dr. Anuoluwapo will appeal the judgment.
