A 28-year-old woman, Mrs Charity Anani, who gave birth to quadruplets at a private hospital in Lagos, has died after being held over an unpaid medical bill of about N3 million.
The incident occurred at Adebayo Hospital in the Igando area, where she had remained with her newborns since their delivery on February 27, 2026, due to the family’s inability to fully settle the bill.
According to her husband, the tragedy happened on April 3, 2026, after she developed severe breathing complications. Despite being placed on oxygen and receiving medical attention, her condition worsened overnight and she passed away the following morning.
The family had earlier been appealing for public assistance to offset the hospital debt, which still had an outstanding balance of about N1.4 million at the time of the incident.
In a further heartbreaking twist, one of the quadruplets who had been placed in an incubator due to complications also died before the mother’s passing.
The family has since been discharged from the hospital, while the three surviving babies are said to be in stable condition and are being cared for by relatives.
The incident has sparked renewed concern over the practice of detaining patients in hospitals over unpaid medical bills in Nigeria.
