A tragic childbirth emergency has taken a disturbing turn after a young woman, Akudo Lovelyn John, reportedly fell from a hospital stretcher onto a tiled floor while being evacuated in critical condition at a private medical facility in Lekki, Lagos.
The incident, which has sparked outrage on social media, was brought to public attention by prominent human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, who shared the heartbreaking account of his close friend and colleague, Justice John, following the death of his wife, Mrs. John.
Akudo Lovelyn John, who had registered and received antenatal care at Gynescope Specialist Hospital, Lekki, died after what her husband described as prolonged mismanagement of postpartum complications following childbirth.
According to Justice John, concerns were earlier raised during antenatal visits about the baby’s size and the safety of vaginal delivery.
Despite these concerns and suggestions for an elective caesarean section, the attending consultant reportedly insisted on spontaneous vaginal delivery.
On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, Mrs. John went into labour and delivered a baby weighing 4.2kg.
Complications allegedly began shortly after delivery. She reportedly complained of internal discomfort and continued bleeding, while appearing weak and unresponsive for several hours.
Her husband stated that although internal bleeding was identified, no urgent referral was made to a higher-level facility, and blood transfusions were carried out without first locating or repairing the source of the bleeding.
Things reportedly worsened in the early hours of Thursday, December 4, when Mrs. John began convulsing around 3:00 a.m. Justice John said no medical personnel were immediately present, and there was no oxygen available in the ward at the time.
As her condition deteriorated, arrangements were eventually made to move her out of the facility. It was during this emergency evacuation that a shocking incident allegedly occurred.
According to her husband, hospital staff brought a stretcher that had no side guards or safety straps. While being wheeled along the tiled walkway on the third floor, Mrs. John reportedly fell off the stretcher and landed on the hard floor.
Justice John said he had to rush forward himself to help lift his wife back onto the stretcher, describing the moment as deeply traumatic.
He has since challenged the hospital to release CCTV footage from the third floor to clarify what transpired during the evacuation.
John further alleged that confusion among staff over whether to use the stairs or the elevator caused additional delays at a critical moment.
On reaching the ground floor, the situation reportedly deteriorated further. The ambulance was said to be parked about 80 metres away, covered with a tarpaulin and not ready for immediate use.
Justice John claimed that the ambulance keys were not readily available and had to be retrieved from the hospital’s human resources office, while the driver reportedly struggled to power the vehicle.
Throughout this period, Mrs. John was said to have remained exposed on a stretcher, without oxygen or urgent medical intervention.
Effiong, who had attended the couple’s civil wedding just a year earlier, said the circumstances surrounding Mrs. John’s death raise serious questions about emergency preparedness, standard of care, and accountability in private healthcare facilities.
Justice John has vowed to pursue justice for his late wife, insisting that her death was preventable.
As calls grow for an independent investigation, Nigerians online are demanding transparency, including the release of hospital CCTV footage and a thorough review of the actions taken before and during the failed evacuation.
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