A 28-year-old woman, Charity Anani, who was reportedly detained in a Lagos hospital over an unpaid medical bill of N3m after delivering quadruplets, has died alongside one of her newborns, in a development that has sparked outrage.
Her husband, Paul Anani, confirmed the incident to our correspondent, saying his wife died on Friday, April 3, 2026, at a private facility identified as Adebayo Hospital in the Igando area of the state after battling breathing complications.
The late mother had earlier recounted her ordeal following the birth of her four babies on February 27, 2026, alleging that she and the newborns were held at the hospital due to their inability to offset the accumulated bill.
It was gathered that the family had initially anticipated the delivery of twins based on multiple ultrasound results, but were shocked when she gave birth to quadruplets.
Medical sources indicated that a caesarean section was performed to deliver two of the babies, while one of the newborns later developed complications and was placed in an incubator with oxygen support.
The mounting medical expenses reportedly forced the family to seek public assistance, as the bill rose to about N3m, with an outstanding balance of approximately N1.4m at the time of the incident.
Recounting the final moments, the bereaved husband said his wife began experiencing breathing difficulties on Thursday evening, which worsened into Friday morning despite medical intervention.
“She complained she couldn’t breathe properly. I called the doctor, and she was placed on oxygen and given drugs, but the condition persisted through the night till she passed on Friday morning,” he said.
Paul further revealed that one of the quadruplets — the baby earlier placed in an incubator — had died before the mother’s passing.
According to him, he withheld the news of the baby’s death from his wife due to her fragile condition, hoping to break it to her later.
The grieving father said the incident had left him devastated, adding that although the hospital bill remained unsettled, the family was eventually discharged due to the tragic circumstances.
He noted that the three surviving babies are currently in stable condition and are being cared for by relatives.
The incident has reignited concerns over alleged detention of patients in hospitals over unpaid bills, a practice widely condemned by health rights advocates.