The Special Adviser to Governor Monday Okpebholo on Health Matters, Dr. Andrew Iyamu, has made a shocking allegation that a final-year medical student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) contributed to the death of Alhaji Danjuma Garba, an aide to the governor. Garba died on January 10, 2026, after a brief illness. According to Iyamu, the deceased was being treated at a private hospital in the Uselu area of Benin City by the final-year medical student, contrary to medical regulations.
Iyamu made the allegation during the monthly briefing organised by the Edo State Ministry of Information and Strategy in Benin City. He explained that the medical student, who was undergoing training at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), claimed to have served as the Garba family's doctor for several years. However, Iyamu expressed concern that the student was not a certified medical doctor and should not have been treating patients.
Dr. Iyamu revealed that efforts to transfer Garba to a better-equipped facility came too late, as his condition had already deteriorated severely. He alleged that the patient's heart had become too weak to pump blood and questioned the treatment he had received before the attempted transfer. Iyamu also condemned the practice of medical practitioners treating patients outside their areas of specialisation, describing it as a form of quackery.
The health adviser emphasised that in medicine, there are sub-specialties, and practitioners should refer patients to specialists if the case is beyond their expertise. He added that some practitioners attempt to handle cases beyond their expertise because they do not want to lose patients or income. Iyamu described this practice as wrong and a form of quackery.
Dr. Iyamu announced that the Edo State Government, through health monitors appointed by Governor Okpebholo, is determined to curb such practices and improve compliance with medical regulations. He advised residents to seek treatment at properly equipped medical facilities where they can access qualified medical professionals, particularly when dealing with serious medical conditions.
The medical student was released after Garba's family intervened and insisted that he had been their doctor for several years. Iyamu expressed concern that the family was willing to accept the student's claim, despite him being a final-year medical student. The incident has raised concerns about the regulation of medical practice in the state and the need for stricter measures to prevent quackery.
The case has also highlighted the risks associated with seeking medical treatment from unqualified practitioners. Dr. Iyamu's allegations have sparked a renewed debate about the need for stricter regulations and monitoring of medical practice in Nigeria. The incident has also raised questions about the circumstances surrounding Garba's death and the potential consequences for the medical student involved.
Key points
- A final-year medical student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has been accused of contributing to the death of Alhaji Danjuma Garba, an aide to Governor Monday Okpebholo.
- The medical student allegedly treated Garba at a private hospital in Benin City, contrary to medical regulations.
- The Edo State Government has pledged to curb the practice of quackery in medical practice and improve compliance with medical regulations.
