How my ailing brother admitted to hospital van!shed without trace — Lagos trader
How my ailing brother admitted to hospital vanished without trace — Lagos trader
Lagos-based businessman, Olatunde Albert, speaks to BIODUN BUSARI about how his younger brother admitted to the Lagos State General Hospital, Gbagada, went missing
Where do you live?
I live in Somolu, Lagos, and I sell clothes.
What happened to your brother?
My younger brother, Kehinde Albert, has been sick for three years. He was admitted to the Lagos State General Hospital in Gbagada. However, he went missing after spending a day in the hospital. His disappearance was strange and questionable as well.
What kind of sickness does he have?
The sickness has to do with his senses. He has not been in total control of his senses. To my understanding, it is because he drinks all these varieties of sachet gin. He has been drinking for a long time.
What did your family do to help him?
We took him to a private hospital in Surulere, and he was getting better. He spent six days on oxygen that time. The sickness had led to a partial stroke. It should be around three years ago. We spent close to N1.8m at that time. When he got better, we were advised to take him to a rehabilitation centre. But the rehab asked us to conduct some tests on him. We went to Gbagada to do the tests.
What kind of tests?
The tests were to be conducted for doctors to know how to make him better. At that time, he was not eating. He couldn’t talk or walk. When we took him to the hospital, he was admitted immediately.
Last Thursday, he had convulsions, and he started getting choked. That was what led to the tests.
Who was he staying with before the sickness?
He stayed with my mum in Bariga before she died seven months ago.
Did you go home when he was admitted?
Yes, I paid the bills for the tests. Then I went home. But his twin brother was with him. It was on Friday that I went back to the hospital, where I learnt of his disappearance. The hospital said we would collect the results of the tests on Monday. I have not collected them up till now.
What did his twin brother tell you?
He told me that the hospital security personnel sent them out in the evening, around 6 pm and 7 pm. But when I asked the security personnel, they said my two brothers attempted to run away. They attempted to run away twice. I met Taiwo roaming around the hospital premises. That was when he told me that he couldn’t find Kehinde again.
Were you indebted to the hospital?
I was not indebted to the hospital. I paid about N80,000 for the tests.
Where was he admitted?
At the emergency ward.
Assuming they were sent out, how did Kehinde, who couldn’t walk, go missing without Taiwo knowing?
Taiwo said he was talking to the security guards, and Kehinde was at the back. He didn’t know when Kehinde went out. So, that was when he couldn’t find him?
How old is he?
He’s 42 years old.
What was the excuse the security guards gave Taiwo for sending them out?
That aspect was not clear to me because they later checked their card and found out that they owed the hospital N1,000. So, a security man told me it was because of N1,000 that they wanted to run away twice. I think Taiwo was lying. I don’t think they were sent out.
A security man told me that it was because of N1,000 that they wanted to run away. So, he gave them N500, and Taiwo added N500 to it. They settled the bill immediately. He was not supposed to be discharged on Friday. We have been looking for him since that time.
Have you asked Taiwo what really happened?
I don’t know because I’ve been asking him, ‘Why did you want to leave the hospital without my consent?’ I was the one who took Kehinde to the hospital. They are asking me to do this and that. I told him that he should have called me on the phone to discuss with me, even if there was any issue.
Has Kehinde gone missing before?
No. He has not been missing like this before.
Have you reported this case to the police?
Yes, I reported it at Pedro Police Station.
What was the reaction of the hospital to this issue?
I was with their medical director this morning. They are saying the same thing: that when they wanted to run away, the security went to bring them back. Later they found out that they owed the hospital N1,000 and they paid the money.
Did you know you were to pay N1,000 for a hospital card?
I didn’t know, maybe when they found out later that we owed the hospital. They only gave me the bills for the tests which I paid.
How would you describe Taiwo?
They were always together. They followed each other everywhere. To me, I think Taiwo doesn’t know where Kehinde is. I have been asking how this could happen because I don’t understand.
What led to Kehinde’s habit of taking alcohol?
I think he was taking it for pleasure then. He didn’t lose anybody or have any issue to warrant him taking alcohol. He has many friends, but he doesn’t sit with anyone. He only sits with his twin brother most times. They are always together, they took it (drink) together.
