"Naheemah, Victim Of Collapsed Building In Lagos Left With Fake Promises By Lagos Government.

Parents bemoan neglect as LASUTH threatens to evict child victim of collapsed Lagos mosque 

• 12-year-old Naheemah, other victims deserve compensation, not cruel treatment: MURIC

The parents of Naheemah Lasisi, a 12-year-old victim of the collapsed mosque at Papa Ajao area of Mushin in Lagos have accused the state government of abandoning the treatment of their daughter as the management of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos has threatened to evict her on Monday, July 8, without fulfilment of their medical promises.

Recall that little Naheemah was one of the Muslim worshippers that went to observe Salatul Zuhr on Sunday, May 26, when the foundation of the one-storey Mosque building was hit by a government excavator/bulldozer clearing road, leading to the death of two innocent worshippers while a host of  others sustained various degrees of injuries.

Muslim News gathered that Naheemah, who was also at the mosque at the time of the incident, suffered severe injuries leading to the amputation of her two legs on Thursday May 30 and Friday, May 31 respectively due to the unfortunate accident caused by careless government workers.

The Governor Sanwo-Olu led-administration consequently promised to take full responsibility of hospital expenses of the victim.

I was disheartened, Naheemah's mother

Naheemah's mother, Mrs. Rashidat Lasisi, said: "When they wanted to amputate her first leg at the surgical emergency, I was disheartened. I refused, as I couldn't stand seeing her immobile. When the pressure was much, we went to see the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of LASUTH, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabanwo, who assured us that they were going to cater for all that she may require, including artificial legs for her mobility afterwards. They said she will be fine, that her career and education will be catered for.

"Naheemah's case was revisited and discussed the day Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, came to commission a project in LASUTH. He gave us his words, but since then, there has not been any positive move to fulfil the promises," Mrs. Lasisi told Muslim News on Saturday, July 6.

The parents, despite going through difficulties as they struggle to offer the best care to Naheemah and secure her future are saddened as the Lagos State government has reneged on its promises to ensure the little girl lived again.

'They promised a lot with little or no action'- Victim's Mother 

Mrs Lasisi added in tears: "They promised a lot with little or no action. Each time, all they do is to make promises and we don't get to see the promises come to fruition. So, we decided we were going to finalise all arrangements with the government before leaving the hospital. "

Furthermore, Naheemah's mother who spoke on the pathetic state of her daughter's health, said she was surprised as the hospital management notified that her daughter will be discharged. She alleged that the family was given a note to take to any health facility closer to their home for dressing of the wounds without concluding her treatment.

According to her, "When Naheemah insisted she could not afford to miss her exams and promptly the doctors were notified.

Rather than suggest an arrangement, all they resolved was to issue a discharge and efforts to have an audience with the CMD have been rebuffed.

"Luckily, we made arrangements through the exam office at Education District, Ewe-Nla, so she could write the exam without any stress or discomfort.

We went back to the hospital to update them about the development with the hope that the hospital will temporarily discharge Naheemah and re-admit her after examination since she is still recuperating.

"The examination in question is a promotional test into SSS class, otherwise we would have exercised patience and that explains arrangements with the District and it worked because she wrote the exams in the hospital with an invigilator assigned to her.

"So, few days later, Dr. Olawoyin came to meet me where my daughter was writing exams. He apologised over the way we have been treated, thereby intimating me that they are planning to do an interview for Naheemah, myself and her father. He also disclosed that the teacher and nurses in her ward will be interviewed, with the focus of appreciating government for their support and urge them not to stop the treatment of the victim."

Why we call MURIC for intervention: Mrs Lasisi

The mother said she was skeptical when they told her about the interview and wondered why government doctors will organise interviews. "Why should we praise the government when we are being denied even to see the CMD over our child's health. So, I decided to call MURIC Director, Prof Lakin Akintola and intimate him about the development and the plan to conduct interview with us. I requested him to send a representative to be part of the interview, which he agreed.

"On Friday, July 5, 2024, I waited long enough, but the Doctor and his people didn't come on time, so, I had to leave the hospital to attend to something urgent while Naheemah's father stayed with her.

How MURIC official was harassed by LASUTH security: Naheemah's father

Recounting what transpired, Mr. Ganiu Lasisi told Muslim News that Dr Olawoyin later came with two women for the interview, adding that, "They didn't even wait for her to conclude her Mathematics exams. With less than 30 minutes to finish the paper, they insisted that the interview should be commenced."

According to him, "Before the interview commenced, Dr. Olawoyin asked my child, 'do you remember what I told you yesterday'? He instructed her to tell the interviewers everything he told her.

"While the interview was ongoing, an official from MURIC arrived and the moment they suspected he was recording the proceedings, Dr Olawoyin pounced on him, seized his phone and ordered the security personnel to harass him. They hounded him and I accosted them for fear he might be harmed.

They took him to the ICT Department of the Hospital and ensured that all the videos he took with his phone were deleted.

"He was harassed and detained for over two hours before being released. I saw him off because they didn't want to see him within the hospital premises again, and on returning to the hospital, my wife had returned. She told me they had given us a discharge letter. They gave us till Monday, July 8 to move our child out of the hospital.

I cried when I first heard three of my children were in the mosque: Naheemah's father

Mr Lasisi, Naheemah's father recalled that three of his children were in the mosque during the unfortunate incident, adding that the remaining two children only sustained minor injuries.

"I first passed out when I heard that three of my children were in the mosque", Mr. Lasisi related as he cried uncontrollably before he was pacified.

"I was later told that two of them left sustaining minor injuries. But Naheemah was trapped inside. With the support of people, and rescue operators, she was removed and rushed to the hospital in an ambulance.

"When I got to the hospital, she was left unattended immediately. They only used bandage on her legs while she groaned in pain. I challenged some of the nurses who were busy gisting, they told me that I should go and get a card, before she can be properly attended to. They later attended to her when I shouted at them.

"After a few days, they concluded that the legs will be amputated. Initially they said the left leg was still safe and may not require amputation .

Thereafter, they amputated the right leg", he related.

I was harassed, threatened and detained for over two hours in LASUTH: Abdul-Fattah

Mr. Lawal AbdulFatah, the MURIC official who had gone to LASUTH on the request of Mr and Mrs Lasisi said he suffered dehumanisation in the hands of LASUTH officials on Friday.

He narrates: "When the doctor saw me, he was upset. He asked who I was and I identified myself. Then, he seized my MURIC ID card and called security officers to drag me out of the room.

"They dragged me around, threatening that I would sleep in detention that day. They asked if MURIC had the money to expend on litigation, that they were ready to show their might in the law court. They detained me for over two hours, claiming that the Chief Security Officer was not on seat. They eventually took me to the ICT Department, where my phone was ransacked and the files therein deleted."

LASUTH officials were unperturbed: Prof Akintola

The Director of MURIC, Prof. Ishaq Akintola also recounted efforts that were made to ensure the immediate release of Abdul-Fattah, but noted that LASUTH officials were unperturbed as they continued to keep the harmless man in detention illegally, even after the Permanent Secretary's intervention.

The human rights activist insists that Lagos must take responsibility for rebuilding the mosque and pay full compensation to Naheemah, families of the deceased and other victims in the unfortunate incident.

The happenings on this case leaves one with a number of questions unanswered: Will the government of Lagos act responsibly and cater for the needs of 12-year-old Naheemah who lost her two legs due to the carelessness of government's construction workers?

Will Naheemah Lasisi and the other victims including the families of the deceased be duly compensated by the government?

Will LASUTH force already traumatised Naheemah and her family out of the hospital without completing her treatment?

What plans does the Lagos State Government have for Naheemah Lasisi's treatment, mobility and education?

What was the motive of Dr Olawoyin, and what is his interest in the interview?

Why did he feel threatened by the presence of Abdul-Fattah, a harmless man?

Why was Abdul-Fattah violated in that manner? Is Lagos still serious about securing lives and protecting the dignity of the people of Lagos?

There is a great need for the government to act swiftly on the above and ensure that the culprits involved are duly penalised.

Efforts to hear the LASUTH side of the story proved abortive as the CMD who was convivial from the beginning of a telephone conversation with our reporter on Saturday, July 6 became brusque and unceremonious immediately he learnt the call was connected to Naheemah, the girl-child victim of mosque collapse in Mushin.

He didn’t even give any audience. He said: "I'm actually not a party to anonymous dealings. What you need to do is to come down to LASUTH with an ID. that I can verify."

🖊️  Muslim News Nigeria

Muhammad Isah Ramat

Thursday, 11th July 2024.

Ramat Unlimited