Coroner’s inquest into Ugboma’s death to begin July 5

By Robert Egbe

The coroner’s inquest into the death of a Lagos chef, Peju Ugboma, will begin sitting on July 5.

The inquest will be presided over by M.K.O. Fadeyi at magistrate court 13, Samuel Ilori Court House, Ogba, Ikeja.

Ugboma, aged 41, died on April 23 after her surgery at Premier Specialist Medical Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Her family alleged that their daughter died due to the negligence of health officials at the hospital, where she had undergone the surgery for fibroid but later suffered internal bleeding.

In the heat of the public outrage that followed, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) initiated investigation into possible violations of patient and consumer rights in Ugboma’s case.

Last Monday, the coroner’s inquest towards ascertaining the circumstances surrounding her death was initiated.

Olisa Agbakoba Legal, acting on the instructions of the deceased’s husband, Ijoma Ugboma, requested an inquest and in response, the Chief Coroner of Lagos appointed Fadeyi.

At the preliminary sitting, Fadeyi gave a general guideline on the nature of the procedure he is adopting and directed the inquest to commence on July 5.