Lawyer Petitions UMTH Over Alleged Negligence, Demands Probe Into Father’s Death

The Chief Medical Director of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), Borno State, has been petitioned over alleged medical negligence, unprofessional conduct, and systemic failures said to have led to the death of a patient, Alhaji Nuhu Dantani, on March 31, 2026.

The petition, written by a legal practitioner and human rights activist, Hamza N. Dantani, who is also the deceased’s son, called for an urgent, independent, and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his father’s death at the facility.

According to the petitioner, the late Dantani was initially admitted at the hospital’s Kidney Centre, New VIP Extension, where he underwent a prostate-related surgery and was discharged with a catheter, alongside a scheduled follow-up on March 16, 2026.

However, following a sudden deterioration in his condition, he was reportedly rushed back to the hospital on March 13 and admitted at the Emergency Unit. The petitioner alleged that for two days, the patient was left without a definitive diagnosis or meaningful medical intervention despite being in severe distress.

He further claimed that after being transferred to the Male VIP Medical Ward, there was no adequate supervision by doctors, while nursing staff allegedly continued intravenous treatment without a clear medical plan, as the patient’s condition worsened.

The situation, according to the petition, only saw some intervention after the patient was moved to Amenity Ward “B” under a consultant who invited the Gastroenterology Unit. However, the unit allegedly failed to respond for over 48 hours, with one staff member reportedly admitting they were aware of the referral but “forgot” to attend to the patient.

The petition outlined several alleged acts of negligence, including the improper use of a nasogastric tube, delayed diagnostic investigations, lack of oxygen supply during respiratory distress, and late detection of complications that could have been identified earlier with proper medical attention.
It also highlighted the absence of critical equipment, such as a functional mobile X-ray machine, which allegedly delayed diagnosis until hours before the patient’s death when his oxygen saturation had dropped to a critical level.

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Beyond the specific incident, the petitioner raised broader concerns about systemic issues within the hospital, including poor communication among medical teams, absenteeism of doctors, inadequate supervision of junior staff, poor hygiene standards, and lack of empathy in patient care.

He argued that the alleged failures amounted to a violation of the patient’s right to life as enshrined in the Constitution and fell short of expected standards in a tertiary healthcare institution.

The petitioner is demanding a full investigation, accountability for those found culpable, a comprehensive review of hospital protocols, improved staff supervision, and the provision of essential medical equipment.

He warned that failure by the hospital management to act promptly would result in escalation of the matter to relevant authorities, including the Federal Ministry of Health and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, as well as possible legal action.

The University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital is yet to officially respond to the allegations at the time of filing this report.