The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mayowa Ahmed

Fans bombard Aimakhu as mixed reactions trail Mayowa’s death

First, she became ill, started a drive to raise treatment costs which succeeded before she and and her family were accused of financially manipulating the good hearts of Nigerians. But on Sunday, everything ended as reports broke that 29-year old Mayowa Ahmed, who battled Ovarian Cancer and allegations of fundraising scam, died in a South African hospital.

Ever since Mayowa Ahmed’s death was announced on Sunday, some watchers of the developments have sought to hang her death on various causes such as fate and various persons. The parties involved include Toyin Aimakhu who had earlier joined the #Savemayowa Campaign but left, Aramide Kasamu of Life Stake Foundation and Linda Ikeji who owns LindaIkejisblog, the platform which broke a story denouncing Mayowa’s case as irredeemable and suspected foul play on Nigerians by the Ahmed family, a claim the family denied. This resulted in a police case which was only resolved after about a week later. She travelled to South Africa on August 11.

Last week, the late Mayowa’s family thanked Nigerians for raising about N32 million aside the $100,000 raised online via gofundme for her treatment abroad.

And while Toyin Aimakhu is yet to say anything about Mayowa’s death, some of her fans have come out to berate her. On Sunday, Aimakhu had posted a picture which had the wordings ‘I can’t believe there are only 4 months of 2016 left. What did I do for the other 8 months?’

And some of the responses served to inform her of Mayowa’s death.

‘Mayowa is dead’, wrote righteousree, ‘Aunty toyin… mayowa is dead’, wrote tonia.horlan ‘RIP Mayowa’ wrote 1srladyskincare while divalicious_phil asked ‘Is it true mayowa is dead?’

However, feeling the star was being harangued, other fans like remmysworld, came to her rescue, commenting: “Mayowa’s cancer was already at stage 4, unknown to Toyin…. she’s gone to rest free of pains and sorrow…..love you Mayowa but God loves you more Rip.”

Reporting the news of Mayowa’s death, LindaIkejisblog, at the end of the story prayed, ‘May her soul rest in peace, amen.’

And while posters also prayed for the repose of Mayowa’s soul, they also expressed divergent opinions.

‘May her soul RIP. Linda take note!,’ Juliet Iwuno said.

An anonymous poster questioned Linda Ikeji’s sympathy. ‘As if you’re pained. Linda pls tell Nigerians how d money will be used since you’re ominknowest.’

Another fan, Carloswilliams, still thinks the SaveMayowa Campaign was a fraud.

‘RIP dear,’ Carloswilliams wrote.

‘I still believe it was a scam. The family nd her Drs knew she (can’t) make it . They (were) only interested In the money. Chikina.’

Other posters wondered at how money yet to be spent on Mayowa’s treatment will be used.

‘No wonder LUTH doctors said she was on stage 4,’ Zetta Blog said. ‘Sad indeed….so what will happen to the 100 million?’

On any remaining funds, some like Oyinlola Ogunwale, advised the Ahmed to put it to charitable causes.

‘Now all we want is that the family should remove her south Africa and burial expenses and ensure that the balance is donated to people who need d help,’ Ogunwale posted.

‘If they hear that that someone needs a 10 million (naira) kidney transplant for example… they should ensure they donate all the money from the balance of the money with them… till Nigerians money with them is exhausted… my humble opinion.’

Prior to flying to South Africa for treatment, Mayowa’s family had considered hospitals in the U.S., India and United Arab Emirates. According to Mayowa’s family, she was misdiagnosed severally until a diagnosis of Stage IV Ovarian Cancer was given to her in June.

The late Mayowa’s elder sister, Mrs Tope Adeniran, said Mayowa was getting better before she died on Sunday.

“I really don’t know what went wrong,” she said.

“But she was a bit better yesterday (Saturday).”

August 22, 2016
LUTH did not diagnose, refer Mayowa abroad

The Management of the Lagos University Teaching University (LUTH), Idi Araba has clarified issues concerning one of its patient, Miss Mayowa Ahmed saying she is an old patient of the teaching hospital who has been on treatment for another condition.

In a statement from the hospital, the management said the 31year-old lady came into the Private Wing of LUTH on Monday, 25th July, 2016 with a history and clinical features of an intra-abdominal mass. The family and the patient brought along some results of laboratory investigations ordered and done from outside LUTH. Three different Specialists were invited to review Mayowa. The Gynaecologist, Oncologist and Haematologist all arrived at a tentative diagnosis of an abdominal malignancy. They planned to conduct a series of fresh tests to confirm the definitive diagnosis, since the earlier tests were neither requested nor authorised by any doctor from LUTH.

“The family, however requested to fly Miss Ahmed outside the country barely 24 hours after her admission in LUTH, thus stalling all the planned investigations meant to arrive at a definitive diagnosis. We were able to transfuse her with much-needed blood only after lots of persuasion where the family was told point blank that it was risky for her to travel by air, given her low blood count. Today is the 3rd day after admission and a definitive diagnosis has not yet been made while the relations insist on their own to carry her abroad. LUTH has only dealt with Miss Ahmed and her relations throughout her stay and not with any other third party. Contrary to any circulating information, the Lagos University Teaching Hospital did not refer Miss Ahmed overseas and this Institution is not involved with any fund-raising activity or activist on her behalf,”the statement read.
LUTH said there was a disturbance of the peace yesterday (today) around the ward premises, when an altercation involving Miss Ahmed’s relatives and persons not known to the Hospital ensued, the police were invited to restore peace in the Hospital. Both parties are presently with the police and we urge the general public to patiently await the outcome of the ongoing police investigations.

The hospital said it enjoined the good-natured public, the press and all philanthropists to seek the expert opinions of specialists in Nigeria if we want to maximise the gains of their concerted efforts and selfless contribution towards alleviating the suffering of fellow Nigerians.

July 29, 2016
Mayowa: Toyin Aimakhu quiet after impulsive reaction

After helping to raise over N30 million for ill fan, Mayowa Ahmed and later purportedly denouncing it as scam actress Toyin Aimakhu has kept mum following the turn of events.

On Thursday, Linda Ikeji ‘s Blog, LIB, said people involved in raising money to raise money to save Mayowa reported to her that it was a scam.

According to the report, Mayowa’s condition was terminal and doctors at University of Lagos Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi Araba, Lagos, where Mayowa is on admission after being diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer had given up on her case. And the family was aware of this, yet they went ahead to raise funds for her treatment.

However, this has generated ruckus on the social space, involving Nollywood actress Toyin Aimakhu, who was a major force behind raising over N30 million. The actress who is set to launch ‘Teemoji,’ her line of emojis was also accused of leaking the news to LIB that Mayowa’s case is a fraud.

Youtube videos on Thursday showed the actress being accosted at LUTH by several persons accusing her of telling gossip blogger Linda Ikeji that Mayowa’s case is a fraud.

However, the actress in the video can be heard denying talking to Linda Ikeji.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, has ordered an investigation of the matter. And Ms Aramide Kasumu, founder of LIFESTAKE foundation and two of Mayowa’s relatives – Mr Iwaloye Seun and Mrs Zaneen Ahmed – were invited by the police on Friday to assist the investigation. Investigation is also ongoing on the Access Bank account opened for the cause as well the management of the GoFund Me account.

On Thursday, the Chief Medical Director, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (CMD LUTH), Idi Araba, Professor Chris had promised to look into the matter as it concerned their patient.

Last weekend Mayowa’s story went viral when she made a video of herself pleading for funds to save her life. According to her, she needed thirty-two million Naira to save her life and has been able to raise over 6.5 million naira. This prompted Nollywood actress, Toyin Aimakhu, to pay Mayowa a visit at LUTH on Monday.

Aimakhu put photos of her and Mayowa on her Instagram account and pleaded with Nigerians to help fund a go fund me account opened for that purpose.

“This is Mayowa,” she wrote.

“I don’t know her. I have never met her. The only thing I know about her is that she is my fan. I am an actress and I believe this is the time to use my voice. We need your help.”

However, on Thursday, Aimakhu again posted that there was a fake Go Gund Me account using Mayowa’s case and the public should be aware of this.

“Please to the public this is so so fake, no more gofunds on behalf of Mayowa and whoever is behind this shame on you, pls disregard any information/s about her pls..if you need any info pls kindly get in touch with me pls and will bring more info tonight again, whoever created this acct shame on you again and lastly to all our pastors, alfas and traditionalists and everyone pls she needs our prayers more now pls and im sure God wants to use Mayowa case to let us know we Nigerians love ourselves and we are the best country in the world.”

This development confused many Nigerians as to what to believe anymore.

A snapshot of the Gofund me account that was raised for Mayowa said she was diagnosed with bilateral Ovarian Mass Carcinoma and needed 100, 000 dollars for treatment at Emory International Hospital, Atlanta, USA.

But according to LIB, ‘there’s no letter from Emory Hospital inviting her over. Mayowa does not have a US visa and the cancer has even spread to her liver.’

It also said: ‘Some of Mayowa’s family members are being detained at Area D in Mushin while they investigate.’

But the Ahmed family members on Thursday denied that the SaveMayowa Donation was a scam.

In a statement, they said that the sole purpose the funds were raised was to take Mayowa abroad for proper medical care.

“As a family, we want to make these affirmative statements,” the statement read, noting that some people doubted her surviving her present condition, referring to LIB’s report.

“Mayowa is presently at LUTH receiving treatment for her seven-hour trip to Abu Dhabi. We also engaged the services of Flying Doctors to accompany her on the trip based on recommendation by doctors in LUTH.

“She is receiving treatment to allow her to be able to travel as advised by doctors. She’s been transfused to help improve her PCV.”

“The funds raised are solely for Mayowa’s treatment and for no other reason. We await her visa to commence the journey as we are in touch with the doctors abroad and they are awaiting her arrival. We appreciate the contributions made by Nigerians on this journey. Mayowa will live to tell this story and you shall be one of the audiences by His grace.

“We have been misled by the so-called top hospitals in Nigeria and have only helped to make the issue worse. We require every support to help to give our dear Mayowa another attempt to regain her life and live the remaining as God as ordained.”

In an interview granted to online news platform, Pulse.ng, Mayowa’s sister, Mariam Ahmed, said her sister has sickle cell and ovarian cancer and said Linda Ikeji cooked up her story.

“I don’t know why Toyin Aimakhu and Linda Ikeji are saying we are scamming Nigerians,” Mariam said.

“It is a lie. No doctor ever told us my sister cannot survive this. They just told us to do something and take her out of the country. Nigerians, we didn’t scam you ooo. It’s a lie ooo. Linda Ikeji has never been in this story and now, she’s cooking up everything… Right now, my sister is inside the room crying. I don’t know what she (Linda Ikeji) wants us to do. I don’t know what she (Linda Ikeji) wants from us. Please, we don’t know anything about the scam. It is true, my sister has ovarian cancer. At least, we sent the medical report. We posted everything online. You people saw everything. Nobody even asked to put the video. She was just tired. She put the video because she does not want to die. And she posted it online. Now, everything is out. There is nothing we can do but keep praying to God. I don’t know why Linda just cooked up the story. Nobody told us she’s going to die.”

Mayowa’s cousin too, Habeeb Olufoye, in a video obtained by YNaija, thanked everyone that contributed to the Save Mayowa Campaign and said the money has been raised and it is solely for his cousin’s treatment.

“The funds have been raised now,” he said in the video.

“We would not do anything with the money apart from saving her. Regardless of what the stage is, she is our sister. Even if it is at stage one million, we would do anything to try and see if it is possible that she lives.”

He also spoke of how Mayowa is being expected at an Abu Dhabi hospital went to a lot of top hospitals in the country and even Reddington Hospital, where she was diagnosed.

He also disclosed that the family wouldn’t mind committing the handling of the funds to trustees.

“Right now that the issues have been raised, we would get a Trustee and we’re willing to accept any Trustee that can handle the funds so we don’t even have access to the funds. They would disburse the funds on the medical treatment.”

However, amidst the ruckus, Aimakhu has remained silent on social media since Thursday’s dramatic turn of events.

July 29, 2016
Linda Ikeji cooked up her story – Mayowa’s sister

***Toyin Aimakhu keeps mum on SaveMayowa donation drive

After helping to raise over N30 million for ill fan, Mayowa Ahmed and later purportedly denouncing it as scam actress Toyin Aimakhu has kept mum following the turn of events.

On Thursday, Linda Ikeji ‘s Blog, LIB, said people involved in raising money to raise money to save Mayowa reported to her that it was a scam.

According to the report, Mayowa’s condition was terminal and doctors at University of Lagos Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi Araba, Lagos, where Mayowa is on admission had given up on her case. And the family was aware of this, yet they went ahead to raise funds for her treatment.

However, this has generated ruckus on the social space, involving Nollywood actress Toyin Aimakhu, who was a major force behind raising over N30 million. The actress who is set to launch ‘Teemoji,’ her line of emojis was also accused of leaking the news to LIB that Mayowa’s case is a fraud.

Youtube videos on Thursday showed the actress being accosted at LUTH by several persons accusing her of telling gossip blogger Linda Ikeji that Mayowa’s case is a fraud. However, the actress in the video can be heard denying talking to Linda Ikeji.

The management of LUTH has waded in to investigate the matter concerning its patient.

On Monday, Aimakhu put photos of her and Mayowa on her Instagram account and pleaded with Nigerians to help fund a go fund me account opened for that purpose.

“This is Mayowa,” she wrote.

“I don’t know her. I have never met her. The only thing I know about her is that she is my fan. I am an actress and I believe this is the time to use my voice. We need your help.”

However, on Thursday, Aimakhu again posted that there was a fake Go Gund Me account using Mayowa’s case and the public should be aware of this.

“pls to the public this is so so fake, no more gofunds on behalf of Mayowa and whoever is behind this shame on you, pls disregard any information/s about her pls..if you need any info pls kindly get intouch with me pls and will bring more info tonight again, whoever created this acct shame on you again and lastly to all our pastors, alfas and traditionalists and everyone pls she needs our prayers more now pls and im sure god wants to use Mayowa case to let us know we Nigerians love ourselves and we are the best country in the world.”

This development confused many Nigerians as to what to believe anymore.

A snapshot of the Gofund me account that was raised for Mayowa said she was diagnosed with bilateral Ovarian Mass Carcinoma and needed 100, 000 dollars for treatment at Emory International Hospital, Atlanta, USA.

But according to LIB, ‘there’s no letter from Emory Hospital inviting her over. Mayowa does not have a US visa and the cancer has even spread to her liver.’

It also said: ‘Some of Mayowa’s family members are being detained at Area D in Mushin while they investigate.’

But the Ahmed family members on Thursday denied that the SaveMayowa Donation was a scam.

In a statement, they said that the sole purpose the funds were raised was to take Mayowa abroad for proper medical care.

“As a family, we want to make these affirmative statements,” the statement read.

“Mayowa is presently at LUTH receiving treatment for her seven-hour trip to Abu Dhabi. We also engaged the services of Flying Doctors to accompany her on the trip based on recommendation by doctors in LUTH.

“She is receiving treatment to allow her to be able to travel as advised by doctors. She’s been transfused to help improve her PCV.”

“The funds raised are solely for Mayowa’s treatment and for no other reason. We await her visa to commence the journey as we are in touch with the doctors abroad and they are awaiting her arrival. We appreciate the contributions made by Nigerians on this journey.

“We have been misled by the so-called top hospitals in Nigeria and have only helped to make the issue worse. We require every support to help to give our dear Mayowa another attempt to regain her life and live the remaining as God as ordained.”

In an interview granted to online news platform, Pulse ng, Mayowa’s sister, Mariam Ahmed, said her sister has sickle cell and ovarian cancer and said Linda Ikeji cooked up her story.

“I don’t know why Toyin Aimakhu and Linda Ikeji are saying we are scamming nigerians,” Mariam said.

“It is a lie. No doctor ever told us my sister cannot survive this. They just told us to do something and take her out of the country. Nigerians, wed didn’t scam you ooo. It’s a lie ooo. Linda Ikeji has never been in this story and now, she’s cooking up everything… Right now, my sister is inside the room crying. I don’t know what she (Linda Ikeji) wants us to do. I don’t know what she (Linda Ikeji) wants from us. Please, we don’t know anything about the scam. It is true, my sister has ovarian cancer. At least, we sent the medical report. We posted everything online. You people saw everything. Nobody even asked to put the video. She was just tired. She put the video because she does not want to die. And she posted it online. Now, everything is out. There is nothing we can do but keep praying to God. I don’t know why Linda just cooked up the story. Nobody told us she’s going to die.”

However, Aimakhu has remained silent on social media since Thursday’s dramatic turn of events.

July 29, 2016
Cancer patient’s family deny fundraising scam claim

The family of Mayowa Ahmed, a Nigerian woman who raised over N60 million to fight cancer, has decried claims by a blog that they set up the fraud to scam people.

The blog on Thursday published that the family had been told by the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) that at Stage 4 of her cancer, there was no longer hope for her but to wait to die yet went ahead to raise millions of naira locally and up to 100,000 dollars through gofundme.

It was also reported that Nollywood actress, Toyin Aimakhu, who helped with the fundraising, visited LUTH with police men to arrest the alleged scammers.
A source said the effort raised about N64million for the 29-year old woman who suffers from ovarian cancer.
However, the family in a statement, noted that despite LUTH’s verdict, they would not give up on Mayowa.
They noted that efforts are being made to fly her to Abu Dhabi by next week.
The statement reads: “We have been called by friends, family that our raising funds for Mayo is a scam. We were also informed that some persons had made statements concerning her state and her ability to pull through this ordeal.
“As a family we wish to make these affirmative statements:
· Mayowa is presently in LUTH receiving treatments that will prepare her for seven-hour trip to Abu Dhabi. We have also engaged the services of the Flying Doctors to accompany her on the trip based on recommendation by the Doctors in LUTH.
· Mayowa is receiving treatment in LUTH to allow her be able to travel as advised by the Doctors in LUTH and she has been transfused to help improve her PCV.
· The funds are solely for Mayowa’ s treatment and for no other reason.
· We await her Visa for travel documents to commence the journey as we are in touch with the doctors abroad and they are awaiting her arrival.
“We appreciate the contributions made by Nigerians on this journey. Mayowa will live to tell this story and you shall be one of the audiences by His grace.”
When The Nation put a call through to Mayowa’s sister, Tope, it was answered by a family friend, Saheed Badmus, who described Linda Ikeji’s claim as false.
He said the family only got to know Mayowa’s ailment was cancer about a month ago after about a year of regular tests at LUTH and the Reddington Hospital and are continuing with medical treatment because Mayowa’s wish to fight for her life.
“The true story is that the girl is very sick. She was in my house in March and up till that time LUTH and Reddington could not give us the cause of her sickness.
“It is not as if the family knew she had cancer like three or four months ago. We just learnt about the cancer last month because LUTH and Reddington could not give us a diagnosis from the results of the tests they had been conducting since last year. They are the major cause why we are in this situation. We had to send the test results abroad before we were told she had ovarian cancer.
“The girl said she doesn’t want to die like this. She is not giving up on herself. It is not like the hospital she is going to in (Abu Dhabi) is promising a miracle. But they can take care of her.
“Linda Ikeji is not being open-minded. Watch her (Mayowa’s) videos. She says she just wants a chance to live,” he said.
Badmus also told this reporter that he was the one that urged the family to seek help from the public in their struggle to save their daughter’s life.
“The family does not want thi publicity. I was the one that said they should seek support. They are not hungry people without jobs. But I advised them that with the enormity of the problem, they should seek help,” he said.
Another source close to Mayowa’s sister (names withheld), defended the family, saying she demonstrated integrity when they were in school together.
She added that one dose of injection for Mayowa’s treatment costs up to N4million.
She said Linda likely published the post because people normally give up when cancer gets to advanced stage.
“Linda Ikeji is going based on the stage of her ailment and the theory that once it’s stage IV there is no remedy and that is not true. It all depends on how much money you have to treat yourself; and most especially God’s grace,” she said.

July 29, 2016