Lagos lawmakers probe death of medical doctor in elevator

CITIZENS COMPASS – THE Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday, August 3, 2023, commenced a probe of the elevator accident that led to the death of a medical doctor, Vwaere Diaso, promising to ensure justice for the deceased.

The House also held a one-minute silence in honour of the deceased while sympathising with the family and friends of the late doctor as well as the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who set up a committee to investigate the accident, said a proper probe of the incident which happened recently at the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island, was needed to ensure proper management and safety of lives.

The 8-man committee to be headed by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Mojisola Meranda, include: Hon. David Setonji, Hon. Lara Oyekan, Olayinka Ajomale, Hon. Shabi Adekola, Omolara Olumegbon, Hon. Oluwa Akanbi and Hon. Olarenwaju Afinni.

They have a mandate to report their findings to the House in two weeks.

Dr. Obasa approved that the  Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital and staff who had roles in the incident be summoned. He also asked the committee to invite the NMA branch in Lagos Island.

The Speaker said it was unimaginable the pain that the loss of the medical doctor would bring to her immediate family.

“It is saddening to loose such a young promising daughter and there is no convincing explanation we can give to the parents and her colleagues; no amount of explanation can suffice,” he said.

The Speaker also appealed to the NMA to resume work, saying government would look into their demands. 

Earlier raising the issue on the floor of the House, Hon. Olarenwaju Afinni representing Lagos Island Constituency 2, urged his colleagues to help look into the crisis.

In his own contribution, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu representing Eti-Osa 2, said the NMA had the right to express its grievances over the death of its colleague, but appealed to its members to call off the indefinite strike in order to avert more death. 

“This incident saddens my heart and we sympathise with the family and NMA. We have seen their demands and we are appealing that they should resume work to prevent patients from dying,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the House has ordered the State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit to stop demolition of houses in the Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos with immediate effect.

The decision of the House followed a ‘matter of urgent public importance’ raised by Hon. Sanni Okanlawon, who told his colleagues that some policemen stormed the area and demolished buildings.

He said the demolition squad had claimed that only shanties would be affected. He lamented that the team had gone beyond the shanties and have demolished a lot of other buildings.

According to him, over 300 people have lost buildings, property and sources of livelihood and that his finding showed that the Ministry of the Environment and the Police Taskforce headed by one CSA Jejeloye were behind the action.

Speaker Obasa, thereafter, directed the Clerk, Barrister Olalekan Onafeko, to write a letter to CSA Jejeloye and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment to stop the demolition.

He also set up a five-man ad-hoc committee including Hon. Nureni Akinsanya, Hon. Adewale Temitope, Hon. Sanni Okanlawon, Hon. Femi Saheed and Hon. Aro Moshood to investigate the matter.