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Tag: Pathologist

  • Some parents of challenged children think I’m Jesus

    –Speech pathologist Florence Shekoni

    Florence Shekoni had a dream of going into the University of Ibadan to study a lucrative course that would later on be a money spinner for her in life. But Providence seemed  to have had a different plan for her. The speech pathologist shares her life story, in this interview with  PAUL UKPABIO and BIODUN ADEYEWA.

    Can you tell us about your work?

    The main thing I do is work with children who have challenges with speech and in other developmental areas, though I work with adults too but more with children.

    What age range?

    From age two and we also work with adults of any age who have challenges with speech. There are also those who have stroke who are struggling to grasp back their speech as well as stutterers who naturally have challenges with communicating and expressing themselves easily. There is what is called challenges within; like some have what we call prolongations, blockages during communication.  For example, somebody wants to say ‘my name’ and starts by blabbing ‘my my my my name…’ In such a situation, the listener may not have much time and patience to cope. The moment some people see such persons, they just say ‘okay, okay’ and leave. So with that, they lose so many opportunities and at the same time, it affects their social, psychological, emotional well-being and that is why people with such disabilities tend to be anti-social and they withdraw to themselves.

    What could have led you into such a field of human endeavour?

    My coming into this field was a divine arrangement. Actually, I studied Epecial Education in the University of Ibadan, and over there, we had so many units. When you study medicine, there is the general surgeon aspect; you can specialise. The same applies at our department in the University of Ibadan. We had a unit called Audiology and Speech Pathology, where eventually I specialised. But before I entered the university, I discovered that I had a passion for people that have challenges.

    Why?

    I don’t know how it started. But my immediate younger brother had a challenge with his speech back then while we were growing up. He started to stutter and in in a way, we were helping him by slowing down our speech, breaking our words for him and today he is a successful marketer. Another scenario: there was a woman who had stroke. Though I was young in secondary school; so I was not aware that the woman had stroke. But out of the whole family circle, I was the one who gave her maximum attention, cooking for her, talking to her and generally caring for her, like bathing, dressing her up and plaiting her hair. I nursed her till she eventually died. I didn’t know then that the Lord was preparing me for something big then. When the woman eventually passed on, the whole family had a meeting and decided that the family needed to pray for me and they called me and prayed for me. Thirdly, I had a half-brother who had a child with cerebral palsy. It was a severe case.  At that time, I didn’t know what cerebral palsy meant. I just knew that the child had a challenge in movement. I just had this passion and was worried why a beautiful girl like that could be struggling to eat, to move and to do simple things that we as children were doing easily. We were not living together, but I used to have the desire and urge to visit them and check on the girl.

    So does that mean that all these incidents led you to study  special education in the university?

    No, I didn’t want to study special education. I didn’t like it at all. I remember when I was staying with my sister at Oyo and I had admission issues with the university; my sister had suggested that I should study special education and I replied her ‘God forbid!’ I wondered why I should be working with people who could not hear or people who could not talk properly.  So I decided that such was not what I wanted to do with my life. When I did the university entrance examination, popularly known as JAMB, I passed very well that year and I was sure of a good course. I had filled in for Library Science, which was influenced by an elderly uncle who was a good librarian. I had figured it out that as a woman, such a course will give me time to be with my children and I would have opportunity to read many books. But eventually, the University of Ibadan was offering only post-graduate degree in Library Science and was supposed to start the bachelor that particular year. Unfortunately for me, when I went to process my admission, I saw a big notice on the door of the department that they would not be able to start the degree course that year any longer.  I broke down and cried. So the options for me were to look for other courses within the Faculty of Education and all the suggestions pointed to special education unit! I recalled my initial dislike for the course. Reluctantly, I had to take it. But not long after we resumed, the passion and love for the course took over. I got to know that one can train a blind person to read and write; I actually saw a lecturer who was blind but had a PhD, and I was impressed. I saw the deaf who was a PhD holder and I surrendered. I was then ready to contribute my own quota to humanity. I had a guardian in the same university who assured me that if I was not comfortable with the course, he would assist me to change it at the 200 level. But at the end of that year, I went back to him and told him, I was no longer interested in changing the course. He was shocked! So he asked me to pick a paper and write a commitment that I was the one who refused to change the course. But I told him take me by my word, and left.

    Many years after, how have you fared?

    The passion moved me forward. It has been wonderful. I have had several trainings outside the university walls as well. That exposed me to many situations of life. You can imagine a parent who has a four-year old child who cannot communicate. There’s a chart for normal stages of speech and language development process for a child. So at four years when a child is supposed to communicate to his or parents about what happened in school, maybe the meeting of a new friend or the arrival of a new class teacher, or a birthday party in school, but the child can’t talk or express in words properly, then there is a problem, especially when such a child is just quiet and starring at you, the parent, endlessly or using gestures or sign language to communicate. For instance, some years ago, my four-year- old child asked me to take him to an eatery and on the way, he told me why he loved to eat chicken; he said it is because he loves to keep the bones so he can give to our neighbour’s dog! That was a four-year-old child, communicating his deep feelings to a parent. But it is not so easy for challenged children. So my work aside, I feel for such parents because I put myself in their shoes, the isolation and frustrations they go through. Meanwhile in some families, there are children of 10 years who can’t communicate or express themselves.

    What are the causes?

    When we talk of children with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, delayed speech or whatever, the major symptom and the connecting factor in it all is that they have problem with speech. It is the underlying factor in all. Even the so-called early disability, when you talk to them, for them to interpret what you have said to them, is a challenge. So it takes time and their processes defer from one to another. In some, however, it is a neurological challenge, while some is mismanagement during child birth, like for the Down syndrome, it is the extra chromosomal factor. There is a particular number of chromosome that is supposed to come from the father and mother. When it is more than needed, it leads to Down syndrome.

    There was a case of a child that was being administered with sleeping pills at a day care and sooner, the parents noticed that a once normal child became abnormal…

    That is a case of mismanagement. Some children, it is the over dose of antibiotics that affects their hearing. We need even enlightenment for parents to know the kind of hospitals, day care centers and such like that they take their children to. Parents should be open and free to ask questions from care givers. A doctor is not God. Parents should ask questions from doctors on prescribed medications. During ante-natal period, mothers to be or mothers generally should be careful about the medications they use. For instance, a woman came in here and was crying. She said that her mother in-law insists that she must be taking the local herbal medicines during pregnancy. These are real live issues. There was a time I went to Shagamu to assess 24 children with different challenges. Out of this number, only five of them went through the normal ante-natal training and care. The remaining were given birth to in one herbal home or another, leading to damage to the babies.

    There was also a story of children who were being administered with a local gin, popularly known as ‘ogogoro’, at a day care center. So parents must watch where they take their children to. It is good that the Lagos State government is taking these matters seriously and now you need to register any Day Care with the government before it can be opened to the general public. Nonetheless some people may still be practising quackery somewhere. So my advice to parents is to always be alert about such Day Care centers or hospitals.

    You are a speech therapist. People like you work in hospitals. Why did you decide to set up your personal practice?

    It is not all hospitals that have provision for a speech therapist. So I realised that early and started a practice whereby I consult for hospitals. Again if I have to work in a government hospital, we are not many, I cannot attend to the enormous volume of number of people needing my attention. There are so many children out there that we need to attend to. The government is actually doing its best, but more also needs to be done in terms of raising more professionals to meet the needs of challenged children.

    Are you saying that there is a dearth of personnel in the area of special education in Nigeria?

    In fact, if you go to the department where I graduated, you will find out that my set in the university had the largest number of students in the class. And then we were 60 in number. Now you will discover that after then, the number has been dwindling and dwindling. I heard not too long ago, that there was a year recently when students admitted were just eight in number! That is because the moment the youth see the course ‘special education,’ they run. Right now we have been sensitising the youth to let them know that there are so many things one can do with a university degree in ‘special education.’

    Today’s youths are also challenged and are under pressure to achieve financial dependence early in life, so they consider courses that are lucrative. So let’s ask you, is special education as a course lucrative?

    It could be lucrative but you know, working with special needs, it takes time. In my case, I see the God factor because I came into the profession by divine leading. It was not about how to make my pocket buoyant. At times you see some children, and your heart breaks. There are some challenged children that come here and defy all solutions. We need to be creative about treatment and be patient to go the extra length. We start with evaluation for our diagnostic test. The time of evaluation sometimes does not show the overall challenge but at least, we will have an insight to the challenge the child may be having. As we continue work, we could discover more, to continually review our programmes to meet the needs of that particular child.

    We can see that you are passionate about your work, but when you met your husband, did he share this kind of passion with you?

    We had about ten years’ courtship. In a way, my admission into the University of Ibadan was worked out by both of us. On this issue of special education, he has been a strong support for me. I think it is God that worked it out for me because I recalled that when I completed the National Youth Service, it was him who supported me into establishing my practice and even when I did not have money for some of the post-training, he was the one that supported by providing the money. That has been his passionate way of support too. Also when I started having children, somehow, my children too imbibed the passion. Two of them are in the university presently but when they were much younger, they used to come home from school sometimes with a message, “Haa, mommy, you need to come to my school. There is a child there who cannot talk properly or there is a child there who cannot hear properly, or there is a child who always has saliva flowing down his or her lips and so on.”

    From there the school talks to the parents and we intervene. And my teams have been wonderful too. So those were the early days. Now, some of my staff have been with me for over 14 and 15 years.

    Through the years, have you had times of discouragement or was there any moment that you thought of giving up?

    Of course, there were times of great discouragement. But the truth is that at such times, just when I am almost about to give up, God sends something my way to uplift my spirit. Sometimes it could be a call from a parent praying for me for the success of the child or sometimes it could be reward for a job I did in the past which I had long forgotten about. At such times, even if I was lamenting inside or feeling bad, the encouragement will come and joy returns.

    Discouragement will always be there, especially in this job because as a parent, you cannot be totally happy if you have a challenged child. You want a quick solution to the problem. And  immediately, once I’m involved, I share the parent’s anxiety. For instance, a child of six that cannot talk, after like two weeks, for instance, we get the child to start mumbling some words but the parent may want the child to talk even almost immediately. Some parents think I’m Jesus; they expect that I’ll say, ‘Be healed’ and their child will be healed. They want me to act like Jesus; they sometimes think that I am Jesus! Yes, I understand their pain and anxiety, but our process is not instant; it’s usually gradual. It’s only once in a while that a miracle like that happens.

    In a situation where a man and woman had normal children and later had a challenged child, should they devote more time to the challenged child?

    My advice to parents is that when there is a challenged child or special need child in the family, do not give them preferential treatment. Treat them like every other child. Treat them equally. See them as  normal children and instruct them like the others. With that, they will know and be like the others. Again,the parents should carry along the other siblings to know that they should treat the special-need children like themselves. Don’t tell the other children that such a child can’t wash plates or attend to chores at home. Children with special needs have potentials; all we need to give them is support to tap into, and they will be independent.

    Do you get referrals?

    We work with the HMOs; we are like a provider of a service to them. When they have children that have challenges like that, they refer them to us. In Nigeria, we have an association, the Speech Pathologists and Audiologist Association of Nigeria. I have senior colleagues who sell hearing aids for children who are in need of such. So we work in collaboration to help children with such needs in getting the best. I even get reference from abroad.

    There was this couple that came in; they already had three girls. The man said it was okay but the wife wanted another pregnancy to try for a boy, so she can sit properly in her husband’s house, like they say here. Unfortunately, the fourth child was truly a boy. Lo and behold, a boy with a challenge. We worked on the boy and after five months, the boy was okay and he is during very well now. For confidential reasons, I won’t say more.

  • Singer, daughter were violently killed, says pathologist

    Lagos High Court in Igbosere yesterday heard that a Nigerian singer, Zainab Nielsen and her three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Petra, died violently.

    A consultant pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa, told the court that a coroner required him to carry out an autopsy on the deceased because of the gruesome state their bodies were found.

    The witness testified yesterday in the twin murder trial of a Dane, Peter Nielsen, who is alleged to have killed Zainab, 29, and Petra on April 5 at the couple’s Banana Island, Lagos home.

    Nielsen, 53, was arraigned on June 13 on a two-count charge of murder, contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Lagos Attorney-General (A-G) and Commissioner for Justice Kazeem Adeniji told Justice Mobolanle Okikiolu-Ighile that Nielsen killed Zainab and Petra about 3:45am at No. 4, Flat 17, Bella Vista Tower, Banana Island Ikoyi.

    Nielsen denied the charge.

    On Monday, Obafunwa told the judge that Zainab, alias Alizee, and Petra, died of head injuries and asphyxia (or suffocation) that were not self-inflicted.

    He said the result of his post-mortem examination of mother and child suggested that they were killed when their noses and mouths were forcibly closed, which deprived them of oxygen.

    Zainab, in particular, also suffered bruises around her head, which were consistent with “blunt force trauma that was not enough to cause any fracture.”

    Obafunwa said evidence showed that she struggled to free herself of her killer’s grip, using her hands and nails.

    The result of a DNA analysis of Zainab’s nail clippings, the witness added, revealed the presence of her DNA material and that of “another individual described as Peter”.

    At the commencement of proceedings yesterday, the professor affirmed his testimony under cross examination by Nielsen’s counsel, Mr. Olasupo Shasore, SAN.

    He said the coroner ordered the post mortem because the incident fell under the categories of reportable deaths.

    According to him, reportable deaths are those that are suspicious, violent, suicide deaths, asphyxia deaths, surgical deaths or industrial deaths of poisoning.

    Obafunwa said in this case, it was a violent death, following which the coroner ordered a post mortem examination of the deceased victims.

    He maintained that his findings were consistent with the presumption that “there was an assailant in this case, that another person was involved.”

    When Shasore, a former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, asked if it was unusual for a husband’s DNA to be on the wife, the pathologist did not disagree.

    Responding to another question, the witness said he couldn’t ascertain who died first because he wasn’t called on when the incident occurred.

    When asked if he saw photographs of Zainab and Petra, when he visited the scene, the pathologist said: “I was shown some photographs that were taken by the police of when the bodies were discovered. In one of the photographs, I observed foam in the mouth of Petra”.

    Justice Okikiolu-Ighile adjourned till November 29 for continuation of trial.

  • Slain banker died of brain injuries, says pathologist

    A banker, Ronke Shonde, allegedly beaten to death by her husband, Lekan, three years ago, died of severe brain injuries, a pathologist, Dr. S.S. Soyele, said yesterday.

    Soyele, from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, conducted an autopsy on the late Mrs Shonde.

    He told Justice Josephine Oyefeso of the Ikeja High Court that the autopsy showed the deceased’s brain was “heavy, swollen and filled with water.”

    “The deceased died of respiratory failure, caused by cerebral edema (swollen brain), caused by a blunt force trauma to the brain,” he said.

    The pathologist was testifying at the trial of Lekan Shonde for the death of his wife at their Egbeda, Lagos home in 2015.

    Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mr. Y. G. Oshoala, Soyele said it was unlikely that the deceased inflicted the injuries on herself because of the multiplicity of the injuries.

    “A bruise was found on her left jaw. During autopsy, it was discovered that the deceased had black eyes (pupils) a telltale sign of brain injury.

    “We opened up the body and brought out the organs. We also opened the skull to bring out the brain. Blood collection was discovered in the skull, just beneath the skin.

    “The deceased’s uterus was also brought out and there was no sign of conception. We took samples from the brain in order to determine the cause of the death, which primarily was respiratory failure caused by trauma to the brain,” he said.

    The pathologist, who said he and his team had conducted over 1,000 autopsies, stated that the late Mrs Shonde’s autopsy showed that she suffered injuries to her brain in the past.

    “We took samples from the brain and discovered old haemorrhage (bleeding) in the brain, which suggests past trauma,” he added.

    Justice Oyefeso adjourned till October 24.

  • How we identified Dana plane crash victims, by pathologist

    •LASEMA, relatives, others hold sixth-year memorial

    A consultant pathologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Dr. Festus Emiogun, yesterday gave on insight into how the hospital successfully identified 148 victims of the ill-fated Dana Airline plane crashed at Iju-Ishaga, a Lagos suburb, on June 3, 2012.

    Despite the fact that most of the cadavers were burnt beyond recognition, Dr. Emiogun said pathologists recorded 97.4 per cent identification success.

    The pathologist spoke at the sixth year memorial organised by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and a lawyer, Oladunni Afolabi, on the site of the crash in honour of the 159 victims comprising passengers, crew and residents of the two-storey building the plane crashed into.

    Emiogun said LASUTH’s Pathology Department used several forensic methods to ensure proper identification of the deceased.

    These include x-rays, anthropology (bone examination), teeth charting as well as body artefacts.

    Following the lack of accurate biometric database among Nigerians, the pathologist said the investigation team resorted to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) examinations for the deceased and their relatives to ensure the right bodies were handed to their loved ones.

    He said: “This was very expensive, but thankfully, the Lagos State government picked all the bills. If we had a database with biometric of Nigerians, like at the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), all we would have done was to crosscheck the fingerprints, dental charts or any other available body part of the deceased with what was in the system. That way, we would not have done DNA tests for relatives of the deceased.

    “When the Dana crash occurred, fortunately, Lagos had a Coronal Law, which was enacted in 2007 under the administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Then, the incident occurred at a time resident doctors in Lagos were on strike. But we immediately suspended that strike and mobilised for work.

    “We were on the scene and established that victims were trapped. The State Pathologist, Dr. John Obafunwa, immediately constituted a Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team, which comprised other senior pathologists within and outside the state.

    “We were divided into four teams and our mandate was to account for the crash victims, reunite them with their families and guarantee dignified handling of the bodies, despite their condition. So, they were properly packaged in body bags and delivered to the department.

    “A few of the bags contained human remains we could not identify at that time. We received 152 bodies, including bags containing body parts we cannot call human beings. We used physical examination in identifying some, but most of them were beyond recognition. So, we took x-ray of all those burnt beyond recognition.

    “We looked at the dental charting and matched with bodies (forensic oxumptology); we did forensic anthropology, which is to identify human beings by studying their bones. We checked for drugs, alcohol abuse on the bodies, particularly the crew.

    “We also looked at artefacts, that is items on the bodies. We were able to identify a newly-wed couple by their ring, which had their names engraved. In all, our identification success rate was 97.4 per cent (148), which surpassed that of France and some other developed countries during such an emergency.

    “Majority of the victims were between 30 and 49 years, from our findings. Most of them sustained lower limp fractures and severe burn injuries. Many of them were alive even after the plane crash-landed. They were trapped, their legs broken, they could not move and so, when the plane exploded, they inhaled soothe and were burnt alive. We were able to keep all bodies in the fridge as work was being done on them with the help of private partnership.

    “There is need for biometric capturing of all Nigerians. We had problems with preparedness of the state during the emergency. The state could have been better prepared, and it is a good thing they learnt from that experience because the government has invested in emergency management. But it has to do more.

    “As a country, we have not learnt any lesson. After Dana, we have had series of near mishaps. Except for Lagos State government, there is no functional Coronal Law at the Federal or any other state level. There is need to pressure government to provide more infrastructure for preservation of human remains and have a standing DVI team.”

    LASEMA’s General Manager Tiamiyu Adesina said though the agency did not wish for a recurrence of such a calamity, it and its stakeholders were better prepared to handle any disaster.

    He said: “We do not wish for a repeat of that incident but we must also tell ourselves the truth: emergencies will certainly occur; accidents will happen. What we have brought to you and to Lagosians is that if it ever happens again, we are better prepared and more enlightened to handle it.

    “The state’s emergency toll free lines, 112 and 767, are more popular today than they were six years ago. All we are appealing is that people should alert us early. Give us information, and when we get to the scene, give us the opportunity to work.

    “Today, we have better facilities, better equipment and more trained workers. This is because the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode places value on human lives.

    “We are here to remember those who died on that day and to also let their families know we share their pains. Let me thank the convener, Mrs Oladunni Afolabi, for keeping faith and ensuring that the deceased are not forgotten. Lagos State will continue to remember them in prayers.

    “As we remember the victims and show solidarity to their families, we must also reflect on the shortfalls of that day with a view to taking useful lessons home.

    “God forbid that a crash happens today. How confident are we, that as stakeholders, we will perform better and ensure lives are saved? I am very confident that the LASEMA of today would do better. As I speak to you, we have more equipment, better training and we have expanded in size.

    “Six years ago, LASEMA was just one single agency in a building inside the secretariat. But today, we have expanded to four other areas of Lagos and have more stakeholders, a better interagency collaboration.

    “For me, we have moved from where we used to be and better days are ahead. We will continue to do a lot of advocacy programme to enlighten our people on the dangers of overcrowding disaster sites as well as what they need to do during emergencies. You have all heard that crowd control was one of the major problems responders faced in this incident. The 30 minutes they spent trying to navigate the crowd when they got to the scene would have made a lot of difference in that incident.”

    For David Kolowole, who lost his wife and seven-month-old daughter in the crash, the first year was very traumatising.

    The distraught husband and father said he felt there was no need to go on living.

    He urged the government to ensure that only worthy aircrafts are allowed to fly the airspace.

    Kolawole stressed the need for education to rural dwellers on how to react during an emergency.

    He also advised that qualified engineers with integrity should always check aircraft before take-off.

    Mrs. Afolabi said there is need for government to have a Minister for Aviation, whose office would be in Lagos since over 40 per cent of the nation’s air traffic is from the state.

  • Adeleke wasn’t poisoned, says pathologist

    Adeleke wasn’t poisoned, says pathologist

    The pathologist, who conducted an autopsy on the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Dr. Olufemi Solaja, yesterday appeared at the coroner’s inquest set up by the Osun State government.

    Solaja, who carried out the examination at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, said there were no traces of poison or heavy metal in the deceased’s body.

    The pathologist said the late Adeleke was given an overdose of sedative and analgesic medicines.

    Solaja, a consultant anatomic pathologist at LAUTECH hospital, was led in evidence by Mrs. Oyindamola Daramola, a senior legal officer for the hospital.

    Solaja  said: “The police brought empty vials and ample of these drugs. Eventually, the deceased was taken to a private hospital where he was confirmed dead and from there he was brought to LAUTECH for autopsy.”

    He said histology of tissues from the body of the deceased was normal, except from the heart, which he explained showed hypertrophy, adding that the liver revealed alcoholic steato-hypatitis.

    Solaja went on: “Death in this case was due to aspiration of gastric content. Although the deceased had hypertensive heart disease, which could have caused sudden death, there was no evidence of such, either grossly or microscopically.

    “It is known that excessive alcoholic intake may depress the central nervous system with the blunting of the gas influx. This may also induce vomiting. The deceased was sedated and was given an overdose of analgesic. These drugs are known to cause central nervous system depression.

    “He apparently vomited and aspirated due to the sedation, so the aspiration of the gastric content blocked the airways, depriving the body of oxygen. This showed up in the body as stinge of colouration. This could cause vital seizure of the system.

    “The toxicology report also showed abnormally high levels of alcohol, sedative and analgesic in the blood of the deceased. There were no traces of poison, or heavy metals in the toxicology report. The police did the toxicology examination and the result was given to me on May 15.”

    The pathologist tendered a copy of the autopsy report and the court admitted it as exhibit EC3.

    He told the coroner that a copy of the toxicology report was not released to him after reading it.

    A health assistant, Mr. Alfred Aderibigbe, who allegedly treated the deceased when he complained of pains, testified before the coroner, but his evidence was not taken.

    His lawyer, Mr. Lekan Alabi, pleaded with the coroner to adjourn his evidence till tomorrow, saying he was served a summons on Tuesday.

    He said Aderibigbe was still suffering from psychological trauma following Adeleke’s death, therefore he was not prepared to give evidence.

    Alabi asked for an interpreter on the grounds that Aderibigbe would give evidence in Yoruba language.

    The coroner, Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara, adjourned till today to take Aderibigbe’s evidence.

    The family of the late Adeleke yesterday said it would consider legal options against the inquest.

    Addreasing a news conference at the deceased’s Ede country home, his younger brother, Deji, on behalf of the family, said: “We believe the outcome of the inquest was predetermined and designed to serve its interest.”

    He said the family had submitted to the sovereignty of the Almighty God, adding that it never intended to fight anyone.

    “We, however, call for an autopsy to know the cause of his death.”

  • Oniba kidnap: Two victims died of bullet wounds, says pathologist

    Oniba kidnap: Two victims died of bullet wounds, says pathologist

    The two persons killed during the kidnap of the Oniba of Iba, Oba Goriola Oseni, died of bullet wounds, a Lagos High Court has been told.

    A consultant pathologist, Dr. Sunday Soyemi, told Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo that autopsy comfirmed that the palace guard, Sunday Okanlawon and a motorcyclist, Joseph Okeke, were shot dead.

    A statement by the Ministry of Justice said Soyemi spoke while being led in evidence by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem during the trial of Duba Furejo, Ododowo Isaiah Reuben Anthony and Yerin Fresh for the monarch’s kidnap.

    Soyemi, a senior lecturer at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) said he performed the autopsy on the duo.

    Soyemi said Okanlawo’s body was identified by his son, Seun, and the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Sergeant Ademo Rahim. Okeke’s body was identified by the IPO.

    He said: “The essential findings on Okanlawon were a circular hole on the shoulder at the back, a structure on the bridge of the nose, and a structural defeat on the upper part of the head”.

    The base of the skull, he said, showed fracture, adding that there was bleeding into the brain and extensive cerebral laceration.

    The autopsy report, he said, attributed Okanlawon’s death to “severe cranial cerebral injury following a penetrative injury to the skull”.

    Soyemi said Okeke’s autopsy report showed a destruction of the left femoral vessel.

    “There was an entry and exit wound and this is usually caused by bullet wound’’, he added.

    Soyemi said the wounds on both bodies were consistent with bullet wounds and gun shot.

    He said after the post-mortem, death certificates were issued to the bereaved families.

    Under cross examination by the defendants’ lawyer, Soyemi insisted that Okanlawon and Okeke died of bullet wounds.

    Sergeant Rahim said during investigation he discovered that Okanlawon was shot in the head.

    The defendants are standing trial on an eight-count charge of kidnapping the Iba monarch, conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, robbery, armed robbery and felony.

    The charge alleged that Okanlawon and Okeke were murdered by the defendants during the kidnap.

    Justice Taiwo adjourned the case to February 3, 10 and 14.

  • Keshi: Foreign pathologist, CP Wilson Akhiwu to perform autopsy

    Keshi: Foreign pathologist, CP Wilson Akhiwu to perform autopsy

    Foreign Pathologist and Commissioner of Police, Wilson Akhiwu have been confirmed to perform the autopsy on the late Stephen Keshi to ascertain what led to his sudden death.

    Family sources said the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) led by Amaju Pinnick will bear the expenses for the pathologists.

    The family sources also said that the delay in  autopsy is due to the absence of Jennifer, the eldest daughter of the late former super Eagles coach.

    Jennifer is expected to arrive Nigeria today from the United States of America, and possibly be in Benin same day.

  • Pathologist gives more details on how Cynthia was murdered

    Pathologist gives more details on how Cynthia was murdered

    The Consultant pathologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. John Obafunwa, on Friday gave more insight into how Cynthia Osokogu was killed by two young men she met on Facebook.

    According to Obafunwa, the late Cynthia’s Osokogu’s mouth was stuffed with a black and yellow hair net, a white handkerchief and the attachment of the weaveon.

    He said that a tape was also fixed before her mouth.

    Obafunwa revealed these while showing pictures of the autopsy activities on the late Cynthia from the beginning to the end of the procedure.

    He was giving evidence before Justice Olabisi Akinlade of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja.

    The pathologist testified as a prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the suspected killers of Cynthia.

    Cynthia, 24, was allegedly drugged and murdered in a hotel room in Lagos last July by the duo of Okwumo Nwabufor and Olisaeloka Ezike, who are facing charges bordering on conspiracy to commit murder, murder and felony.

    Also, Osita Orji, a pharmacist who sold the Rophynol drug to the alleged murderers, is accused of reckless and negligent act, while Nonso Ezike, who pawned the deceased’s Blackberry phone, is charged with possession of stolen property.

    The professor of pathology stated further that the late Cynthia’s lungs were heavily engorged with blood weighing 400-500 grammes rather than the normal 250-300 grammes, adding that there were also tiny beads on the surface, which he attributed to blood accumulation called pulmonary oedema.

    Obafunwa explained further that there were also tiny beads in the lining of her voice box while the kidney when sliced had dark spots in some areas, indicating a shut down of blood circulation due to shock.

    Prof Obafunwa, who was being cross examined by defence counsels, maintained that there was no evidence that the late Cynthia was suffering from any disease like asthma or tuberculosis, based on their examination and microscopic study.

    According to him, the seven bruises on Cynthia’s thighs were suspected to be bite marks while when the corpse was skinned, deep bruises, which couldn’t be seen on the skin were found on various parts of her legs.

    The autopsy pictures revealed that Cyhthia’s hands were tied with tape and a chain covered with blue plastic wrap and there were bruises at the back of her right hand and her mouth was disfigured.

    The pathologist stated that Cynthia’s corpse was labelled unknown when brought in, and that the only clothing she had on was an under shirt with pink stripes

    The professor of Forensic Medicine had earlier testified that Cynthia died from asphyxia, that is, absence of oxygen supply to the body, adding that the blockage of the deceased’s upper respiratory airways was the immediate cause of her death.

    The matter was adjourned till May 31, 2013.

  • CANCER in Nigeria: A pathologist’s view

    The burden of cancer is rapidly increasing and it is likely to continue as more people live longer. Cancer cases tend to be higher amongst the older age group. World Health Organisation reports show that there are presently more deaths from cancer than from AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria combined. HIV itself is an additional cause of the increased incidence of cancer. It is time to do more than lament or pay lip service to the burden of cancer.

    Diagnosis of cancer is facilitated by the work of pathologists. The human body is made up of cells, and it is also regulated by cells. Because of their close study of cells, pathologists are able to recognise dysfunctions or abnormalities that manifest as disease or that which has the capacity to snuff out life.

    Cancer refers to a condition in which cells of any part of the body grow in an uncoordinated manner without regard to surrounding tissue. It manifests as a mass and has the uncanny propensity to spread to surrounding or distant sites. Growths could be benign but a cancer occurs when growths are malignant. Cancer causes death in many instances, if not detected and treated early.

    There are different types of cancer and they feature in different ways in different places. I will briefly refer to three or four cancer types for the purpose of this discussion.

    Liver cancer, in the first instance, generally tends to be seen more in men than in women. Its incidence increases with age, reaching a peak among the 50 and 60 year olds. There is, however, a marked shift towards the younger age groups (among people over 30 up to 50 year old) in high incidence areas like Africa and South East Asia. The early onset of the disease is attributed to exposure to environmental carcinogens especially Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), a toxin produced by some moulds in crops (aflatoxin) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) at birth or soon afterwards.

    The male bias of liver cancer is explained in some cases by the presence of male hormone receptors within cancerous cells. Liver cancer has also been found to result from complications of other ailments. In all, it has been found that the major known causes of liver cancer are preventable. Yet, it is the cancer most commonly known to kill men in this environment.

    Lung cancer is better known to the public and it is usually associated with cigarette smoking. But the development of lung cancer is also associated with some environmental pollutants including those related to occupational exposure such as tin mining, building and even some otherwise innocuous cottage industries which rely on the use of firewood.

    High incidence of lung cancer among women, had called attention to the culpability of chemical pollutants derived from wood-burning and the use of charcoal for cooking. These environmental risks are also considered important in cases of lung cancer among young people regardless of their gender.

    Although rare, testicular cancer occurs within our population, and has been seen in a 19- year -old. The risk of occurrence is significantly higher when the testes do not descend into the scrotal sac at the right time. This is easily detected if parents check at birth or soon thereafter.

    In many cancer treatment centres in Nigeria, about one out of ten cases seen will be prostate cancer (6 12 per cent). The average age when this cancer is seen is between the 65th and round about the 70th birthday. But it could occur any time, from age 40 up till the 90th birthday. It is the sixth most common cause of cancer death in men all over the world.

    Prostate cancer is more likely to affect Black men, and there is evidence to suggest that among African – Americans and Caribbean men, those whose ancestry can be traced to West Africa, the Nigerian area in particular, are more prone to the disease. In any case, evidence suggests that the disease progresses more rapidly in our environment.

    Genetic factors can account for the incidence of certain cancers. Sometimes people inherit genes that make their cells prone to being defective. Environmental factors also play a part in the incidence of the disease. But individual choices, for example those that influence dietary and lifestyle patterns may reduce or intensify risk. Whereas in our society, being sedentary and overweight was once seen as evidence of good living, reducing the body mass, healthy eating and regular exercise limit the chances of disease.

    Sometimes, people cannot avoid environmental risks, such as regular exposure to smoke from cooking with firewood at home, for commerce or within many ‘unseen’ cottage industries, due to the limited resources in the family or community and poor national infrastructure.

    Cancer treatment is expensive regardless of what regime of treatment is adopted; the use of drugs (chemotherapy), and the application of radiation (radiotherapy) or surgical intervention. The most recent development called immunotherapy (requiring manipulation of the immune system), is even more expensive than the earlier three. Since treatment is expensive, investment in cancer prevention and early detection is money well spent.

    Guidelines for reporting biopsies of the gastrointestinal tract and the liver, for use in Nigeria, have been produced. This will provide a basis for comparing status and outcome of patients with diseases, especially cancer, affecting these organs. With guidelines for other cancers developed, trends in the occurrence of other forms of the malignant disease can also be tracked.

    Based on records from the Cancer Registry in Ibadan, the occurrence of cancers can be ranked as presented below:

    •When considering men and women of all ages, breast cancer is the most common, followed by cancer of the cervix, prostate, colon (large intestine) and rectum, lymph nodes (Lymphoma), skin, and liver, in that order.

    • Amongst men only, prostate cancer topped the chart, followed by colorectal (colon and rectum) cancer, Lymphoma, Liver cancer and Skin cancer in that order. Cancer of soft tissue, brain, nasopharynx (nose), larynx (voice box – throat) and leukaemias (blood) also ranked amongst the top ten cancers in the population around Ibadan

    • Amongst women only, cancers of the breast and cervix, followed by colon and rectum, lymphomas, ovaries, skin and uterus are widespread.

    • The large bowel is a frequent site of cancer that is common to all persons. It is the second most frequent site for cancer to occur in men, and the third most frequent site for cancer in women. Other sites ahead of it on the chart are those associated with sexual reproduction.

    Pathology plays a significant role in identifying this and other systemic disorders. More than 70 per cent of all decisions about diagnosis and treatment, hospital admission, and discharge rest on such medical test results. Since diagnosis is the foundation of all patient care, Pathology is a unique medical specialty.

    From their vantage position, pathologists are able to assess the incidence and patterns of diseases. Their observations should therefore be considered in developing a health policy and development of public infrastructure. For instance, the health benefits in domestic consumption of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG support a shift from use of firewood to widespread adoption of cooking gas. This move saves the forest and peoples’ lives.

    The emphasis in health policy should be on prevention and early detection of the disease and the time to act is now. From all indications, the burden of cancer can be expected to rise, but with early detection, cancer cases need not claim so many lives. As the environment changes, one should expect a change in the trend of cancers. So much work needs be done by all and sundry- individuals, groups, corporate bodies and governments. Everyone must take responsibility but this must be premised on clear and dependable information.

    Cancer awareness programmes are required to educate people on the risk factors in the environment, and desirable changes in established patterns of behaviour. Socially responsible corporate entities, the dynamic civil society with the range of bodies and non-governmental organisations – working with health experts and the media are well placed to assist here.

    On its part, federal government needs to review its commitment to healthcare. At present, public expenditure on health is less than a quarter of that recommended internationally; $8 per capita, compared to the recommended $34. This is too meagre and can make no significant impact. Investment in health must be improved.

    Endemic poverty in the nation means few people can afford private medical care. The situation where patients bear 70 per cent of treatment cost must be reversed or significantly improved upon promptly.

    The long term goal of the Revised National Health Policy from September 2004 that speaks of ‘the need to provide the entire population with adequate access not only to primary health care but also to secondary and tertiary services through a well-functioning referral system’ is laudable. However, it is inadequate unless there is a well-financed treatment system.

    Governments at all levels need to take an active interest in issues concerning Cancer Registration. Without robust documentation there can be no proper planning for sufferers of the disease whose numbers are projected to increase in the days ahead. Yet, it is only the government that can make the registration of cancer cases compulsory. This should be done.

    Cancer is no respecter of persons. There is still so much to be learnt about the disease. Cancer research must therefore continue; funding for this must necessarily improve. This will require contributions from governments, corporate organisations and individuals of worth. Our interest in cancer and the action we take may well save our lives and the lives of those we love.

    •Professor Ogunbiyi wrote from Lagos.

  • Cynthia Osokogu was asphyxiated – Pathologist

    Cynthia Osokogu was asphyxiated – Pathologist

    A Consultant Pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa, on Friday said that Cynthia Osokogu, who was murdered in a Lagos hotel on July 22, 2012, died of asphyxiation.

    Obafunwa, who is the Chief Medical Examiner of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, made the statement while testifying before Justice Olabisi Akinlade of an Ikeja High Court.

    The News Agency of Niigeria (NAN) reports that Obafunwa gave evidence at the resumed trial of four men charged with the alleged murder of the 25-year old lady.

    The defendants, Okwumo Nwabufo (33), Olisaeloka Ezike (23), Orji Osita (33) and Ezike Nonso (25), are facing a six-count charge of conspiracy, murder, stealing, reckless negligence and possession of stolen goods.

    Led in evidence by the Lagos State Attorney General, Mr Ade Ipaye, the pathologist said the post-mortem report showed that Osokogu was choked and gagged by her killers.

    He said: “From our findings, the deceased was asphyxiated, which means absence of oxygen supply to the body.

    “That was the immediate cause of death. It was as a result of the blockage of her upper respiratory airways.

    “This blockage was caused by the deceased being gagged and choked.”

    Obafunwa said there were also multiple bruises and abrasions on Osokogu’s body.

    “There were bruises on her arms, back and what appears to be bite marks on the front of her two thighs,” he said.

    The witness told the court that the injuries on the body of the deceased could not have been self-inflicted.

    Also, the court admitted as exhibits, 15 photographs of the crime scene, which were taken at Room C1 of Cosmilla Hotel, Lakeview Estate, FESTAC Town, Lagos, where Osokogu was allegedly murdered.

    The photographer, Mr Lucky Enimelo, told the court that policemen from Area `E` Police Command in FESTAC, had asked him to take the pictures.

    “After snapping the pictures with my digital camera, we went to a laboratory to print them. The police instructed me to delete them from my memory card and also from the laboratory’s computer,” Enimelo said.

    NAN reports that the manager of the hotel, Mr Victor Ugweke, also testified before the court.

    Ugweke said after he was notified by the hotel’s receptionist that there was a body in one of its rooms, he went to report the matter at FESTAC Police Station.

    He said he accompanied the police to the General Hospital in Ikeja, where they took Osokogu’s body.

    “When we got there, they said she was dead and the police took her body to the mortuary,” Ugweke said.

    Nwabufo and Ezike are standing trial for allegedly murdering Osokogu, whom they had met through Facebook, a social networking site.

    Osita, a pharmacist, is being prosecuted for negligently selling Rohypnol Flunitrazepan tablets to Ezike, which were allegedly used to drug Osokogu before she was allegedly killed.

    The fourth defendant, Nonso, was charged with being in possession of three Blackberry mobile phones belonging to the deceased.

    The matter was adjourned till May 24 for continuation of trial.