Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Edo State Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights has called for a full, independent and transparent investigation into the death of 12-year-old Phoebe Egiedenawe Jerrylaw at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, following allegations by her family that she received medication obtained from another patient's supply shortly before she died. The coalition, in a statement signed by its Coordinator-General, Comrade Aghatise Raphael, on Tuesday, September 23, 2026, said the circumstances surrounding Phoebe's final hours must be properly investigated, with her medical records, drug administration history and other relevant evidence preserved.
Phoebe was a student of the Air Force Girls Military School, Jos, where she was reportedly honoured as the 2026 Junior Best Aircraft Woman. An indigene of Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, she was admitted to UBTH on August 7, 2026, after a medical examination reportedly indicated malaria and an elevated white blood cell count. According to the coalition, information provided by the family indicated that Phoebe was stable and did not have an acute life-threatening condition when she was admitted.
The family's account, as presented by the coalition, alleges that at about 10 p.m. on August 20, a doctor who was not assigned to Phoebe's treatment administered medication obtained from another patient's medication without the knowledge or consent of her parents. The family further alleged that the doctor did not remain to monitor her condition after the medication was administered. Phoebe subsequently developed a severe reaction and died on August 21. The family's account that the child bled from multiple parts of her body, the coalition said, made an independent medical and forensic examination necessary.
The coalition stressed that the allegations had not been established and called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the child's treatment and death. It said questions needed to be answered about the medication allegedly administered, who authorised it, Phoebe's medical records, the monitoring provided after the medication was administered, and the precise medical cause of death. "This is not a matter that can be swept under the carpet," the coalition said. "A 12-year-old child has died. Her parents are demanding answers. The public is entitled to know what happened."
The group demanded the immediate preservation and production of the child's complete medical records, including admission notes, prescriptions, drug administration records, nurses' reports, laboratory results, doctors' notes and monitoring charts. It also called for investigators to establish the name, dosage, time of administration and source of every medication allegedly given to Phoebe, as well as the practitioner who prescribed or authorised its use. The coalition further requested an independent post-mortem or forensic examination, where legally and medically appropriate, to establish the cause and manner of death.
The coalition called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Edo State Government, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, the National Human Rights Commission and other competent authorities to investigate the matter. It said the MDCN should examine any allegation of professional misconduct if evidence emerged against a registered medical practitioner, while the NHRC could investigate any possible human-rights concerns. It also urged UBTH and every person or institution connected with the case to cooperate with lawful investigations and preserve evidence that could assist in determining what happened. The group said it was not prejudging the outcome of the investigation but was seeking truth, transparency, accountability and justice for the deceased child and her family. It added that anyone found responsible for negligence, professional misconduct or other unlawful conduct should be dealt with in accordance with Nigerian law.
As of the time of filing this report, no independent finding establishing medical negligence, professional misconduct or the precise cause of Phoebe's death had been identified. The allegations remain subject to investigation and verification. UBTH had not issued a public statement on the specific allegations as of the time of this report. The hospital has previously faced scrutiny over its handling of patient complaints and medical incidents. In February 2026, the hospital denied claims linking a child's death to a measles-rubella vaccine, dismissing the reports as unfounded. The coalition's call for an independent investigation reflects growing public concern over patient safety and accountability in Nigeria's healthcare system, where medical errors and negligence have been the subject of repeated complaints.
For Phoebe's family, the demand for answers is deeply personal. Their daughter, described as a promising student who had already earned recognition at her military school, died under circumstances they believe were preventable. The coalition's intervention has elevated their quest for justice to a matter of public interest, raising questions about the protocols governing medication administration, patient monitoring and parental consent in Nigerian teaching hospitals. The coming days will determine whether the authorities launch the independent investigation the coalition has demanded or whether the matter becomes another unresolved case in a system that has often failed to hold its practitioners accountable.
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