On the 28th of April, Instablog9ja reported that a 31 year old woman, Faith Obinna alledged that a Catholic Hospital—St Raphael Divine Mercy Hospital, located in Ikorodu Lagos stole and sold one of her newborn twin.
This accusation was based on several obstetric scans carried out in the named hospital which previously showed twin birth. Mrs Obinna was said to have undergone a ceaserean section and claimed that while she was under anesthesia, her baby was stolen and probably sold by the staff of the hospital.
Earlier today, May 11, 2020 this accusation was refuted by a statement signed by the Director of Communications of the Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu, and published on the official FACEBOOK page of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos. The release of this statement by the Lagos Archdiocese had become necessary following unending threats and financial demands made on the hospital by the couple.
In the statement, titled “ACCUSING OUR HOSPITAL STAFF OF CHILD STEALING: OUR POSITION” FR. Anthony Godonu maintained that the accusations are “untrue, baseless and unsubstantiated.”
See excerpts below:
The attention of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos has been drawn to some online and print publications purportedly by one Mr. Obinna Alo and Mrs. Faith Obinna, accusing some staff of our hospital, St. Raphael Divine Mercy Specialist Hospital, Ikorodu, Lagos, of stealing and possibly “selling” off one of their twin babies.
It is true that Mrs. Faith Obinna registered as ante-natal patient of our Hospital; it is also true that on Friday March 6, 2020 Mrs. Obinna, to the glory of God, was safely delivered of a baby boy through all elective C-section performed by our Hospital medical professionals. But it is not true that Mrs. Obinna had a twin.
However, we wish to inform the people of goodwill that Mrs Obinna and her husband did not only go online to post their story, but have also filed a petition and criminal complaint with Criminal Investigation Department, Force Headquarters Annex, Alagbon, against the Hospital. As such, both the accused and the accuser have made statements to the Police to aid their on-going investigations on this serious allegation.
On our part, we wish to stress here that our Hospital (St. Raphael Divine Mercy Specialist Hospital, Ikorodu, Lagos) maintains that the allegations and accusations are untrue, baseless and unsubstantiated.
This present statement has become necessary at this point because of the incessant threats and financial demands of the hospital made by this couple for their claims to be assuaged.
We also request the understanding and patience of all good people who have shown so much concern and all those who truly desire to know nothing but the truth, that we leave the matter for now pending the outcome of the report of the authorities of the State.
