The Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos State branch, has expressed concern over the ongoing three-day warning strike by resident doctors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

The NMA warned that the industrial action could escalate into a wider healthcare disruption if urgent steps are not taken.

The strike, embarked upon by the Association of Resident Doctors, LASUTH, followed what the doctors described as the failure of the Lagos State Government and relevant authorities to address long-standing welfare issues affecting medical personnel in the hospital.

In a statement issued by the NMA Lagos Chairman, Dr. Ewonowo Sunday, on Thursday, the association described the development as “deeply unfortunate but avoidable,” blaming prolonged delays in negotiations for the breakdown in industrial harmony.

“We view this development with deep concern. Regrettably, this crisis was avoidable if all concerned stakeholders had been more proactive and responsive in addressing the legitimate concerns raised by the resident doctors,” the statement read.

While acknowledging that strike action remains a last resort, the NMA said it often becomes inevitable when sustained dialogue fails to produce meaningful results.

According to the association, the grievances of resident doctors at LASUTH include delayed implementation of revised professional allowances, unpaid promotion arrears and inadequate welfare support for training doctors.

Among the issues raised are the urgent completion of the new Resident Doctors’ Quarters and Residency Training Centre, payment of specialist allowances to eligible senior registrars, settlement of outstanding promotion arrears, and approval of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund.

“The issues that culminated in the warning strike include: ‎Immediate commencement, construction, and timely completion of the newly modernised Resident Doctors’ Quarters and Residency Training Centre at LASUTH. ‎Urgent conclusion and implementation of the revised Professional Allowance for doctors in Lagos State.
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‎”Payment of Specialist Allowance to all eligible Senior Registrar I doctors at LASUTH. ‎Immediate payment of all outstanding advancement and promotion arrears owed to members. ‎Prompt conclusion, approval, and disbursement of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) to all eligible resident doctors.
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“‎Payment of Teaching Allowance to all Registrars and House Officers at LASUTH. ‎Strengthening of security measures and protection for healthcare workers, patients, and health facilities across LASUTH and Lagos State. The doctors are also demanding the payment of teaching allowances to registrars and house officers, as well as improved security measures within the hospital environment.

“These issues are not new. They are long-standing concerns that require urgent attention to prevent further deterioration of morale among healthcare workers,” the NMA noted.

The association warned that the situation in Lagos reflects a broader national pattern, as resident doctors across the country continue to issue ultimatums over similar unresolved welfare concerns.

It referenced ongoing tensions within the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, which has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government over unpaid allowances, residency training funds, and other welfare issues affecting medical practitioners nationwide.

Also cited were similar disputes at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, where doctors have demanded improved working conditions, including provision of call meals for doctors on duty.

According to the NMA, failure to resolve these issues could trigger a chain reaction of industrial actions that may severely disrupt healthcare delivery across Lagos and beyond.

The association urged the Lagos State Government, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and hospital management authorities to engage urgently with striking doctors to prevent further escalation.

“We therefore call on the Lagos State Government, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the management of LASUTH and LUTH, and all relevant stakeholders to act swiftly and constructively to address all outstanding welfare issues,” the statement said.

It warned that continued delays could lead to a broader healthcare crisis, stressing that the welfare of doctors is directly linked to the quality of care received by patients.

“A motivated and adequately supported workforce remains indispensable to the attainment of optimal healthcare outcomes,” the association added.

Despite the concerns, the NMA Lagos leadership urged resident doctors to remain calm and professional while dialogue continues with relevant authorities.

The association reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement aimed at ensuring both improved welfare for medical workers and uninterrupted healthcare services for the public.

“We appeal to all our members to remain calm, united, professional, and law-abiding as efforts continue towards achieving an amicable resolution of all outstanding issues,” it said.

PUNCH

A Lagos state high court sitting in Ikeja has declared Adenike Oluwayemisi Ajayi the sole lawful widow of Tosin Ajayi, the late founder and chief executive officer of First Foundation Hospital ending a prolonged legal battle over his marital status and estate.

In a judgment delivered by Justice Oluwayoyin Odusanya, the court granted all the reliefs sought by Ajayi and her children, while dismissing the claims of former beauty queen Helen Prest, who had sought recognition as a spouse of the deceased medical practitioner.

The dispute, which began in 2021 following Dr Ajayi’s death on April 26, 2020, centred on competing claims to his estate and the identity of his lawful surviving spouse.

Justice Odusanya held that Mrs Ajayi remained legally married to the late doctor until his death, stressing that their monogamous marriage was never formally dissolved despite years of separation.

The court ruled that separation alone, regardless of its duration, does not terminate a valid marriage without a legal dissolution process.

A key aspect of the case was Helen Prest’s claim that she entered into a Kalabari customary marriage with Dr Ajayi. However, the court found that she failed to provide convincing evidence to support the assertion.

The judge described the claim as an afterthought, noting inconsistencies in Prest’s previous legal positions, where she had at different times described herself as a common-law partner and a civil-law spouse of the deceased.

According to the court, Prest was unable to establish crucial elements of the alleged customary marriage, including when and where it took place, while no documentary or photographic evidence was presented to support the claim.

The court further held that even if such a marriage had taken place, it would have been invalid because evidence showed that Prest was still legally married to her former husband, identified as Davies, at the time she allegedly married Ajayi.

Consequently, the court affirmed Ajayi as the only legally recognised spouse of the late hospital founder and dismissed all claims by Prest.

Justice Odusanya also upheld Ajayi’s entitlement to one-third of Ajayi’s personal estate and ruled that she is the only spouse qualified to apply for letters of administration over the estate.

The Federal Capital Territory High Court, FCT High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, dismissed an application filed by former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adoza Bello, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the N110.4 billion alleged fraud charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.Bello is being prosecuted alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving the sum of N110.4 billion.The application, filed by Bello, sought an order striking out the charge marked FCT/CR/778/2024: Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Yahaya Adoza Bello & 2 Ors, on the grounds that the FCT High Court lacked territorial jurisdiction to hear the matter. He further argued that the proceedings constituted an abuse of court process owing to the pendency of Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024 before the Federal High Court, Abuja.Opposing the application, prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, argued that the application was misconceived and designed solely to delay the trial. According to him, the offences charged are offences under the Penal Code and are therefore properly triable before the High Court of the FCT.Pinheiro further submitted that the properties allegedly acquired with proceeds of the offences, which form the basis of the charge, are all located within Abuja, thereby vesting the court with the requisite territorial jurisdiction to entertain the matter.Addressing the allegation of abuse of court processes, the senior advocate maintained that the charge before the FCT High Court is distinct from the one pending before the Federal High Court. He explained that while the case before the FCT High Court principally concerns allegations of criminal breach of trust and conspiracy under the Penal Code, the Federal High Court matter relates to alleged violations of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.He argued that the two cases differ both in substance and in law and, therefore, cannot constitute an abuse of court process.The prosecution also pointed out that the parties in both proceedings are not the same. Whereas Bello is the sole defendant in the charge before the Federal High Court, he is standing trial alongside two co-defendants before the FCT High Court.In a considered ruling delivered by Justice Maryanne Anenih, the court upheld the submissions of the prosecution and held that it had the necessary jurisdiction to entertain the charge.The court further ruled that the proceedings before it do not amount to an abuse of court process and consequently dismissed Bello’s application for lacking merit.Justice Anenih also dismissed a similar application filed by the third defendant, describing it as equally unmeritorious.Following the dismissal of the applications, the court directed that the trial should continue and the prosecution proceeded to call its 16th witness, Baba Isah Usman Baffa.Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Chukwudi Enebeli, SAN, Baffa testified that he is familiar with Sherrif Plaza, Abuja, a commercial shopping complex located at Plot 739 and comprising 276 shops.He told the court that Ali Bello approached his company with interest in purchasing a shop within the plaza.According to him, “he came to our office, made enquiries about the shops and indicated interest in buying one. We gave him the prospective form and the requirements. He met the requirements, we gave him an account number and he made the payment.”The witness disclosed that Ali Bello purchased Shop B13 for N66 million. He explained that an initial payment of N40 million was made into the company’s FCMB account, while the balance of N26 million was paid subsequently.Upon completion of the payment, Baffa said the company issued an allocation letter and formally allocated the shop to the purchaser.Under cross-examination by defence counsel, P. B. Daudu, SAN, the witness stated that he could identify Ali Bello if he saw him. He denied being friends with him and said he first met him when he visited the site but could not remember the exact date.He also confirmed that documents were exchanged during the transaction and acknowledged that he had previously testified regarding the property before the Federal High Court, Abuja.When asked whether he knew the first defendant, Yahaya Bello, Baffa responded that he knew him only as “a public figure.”With no re-examination from the prosecution, the witness was discharged.Thereafter, the prosecution called its 17th witness, Shenu Bello, an estate agent and commodity trader.Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Olukayode Enitan, SAN, the witness informed the court that he had previously been invited by the EFCC in connection with investigations concerning several property transactions and that he made a statement to the Commission.Testifying on his dealings with Ali Bello, the witness disclosed that he facilitated the acquisition of multiple properties on his behalf.He told the court that he sold a property located at Plot 1773, Guzape District, Abuja, to Ali Bello for N48 million.He further testified that Plot 31, Guzape District, which was purchased from Alhaji Jimeta, was sold for N100 million.According to him, another property located at Plot A02/176, Block 488B, Lome Street, Wuse Zone 7, Abuja, was purchased by Dr. Faruk Bello for N105 million.The witness also testified concerning a property located at No. 1 Ikogosi Spring Road, Maitama, Abuja, stating that it was acquired by Faruk Bello from Efab Estate for N550 million.”It was paid in United States dollars, in cash,” he told the court, adding that his commission was also paid in cash.On Plot 1981, Dalla Hills, Maitama, the witness stated that although he was not involved in the initial purchase, he introduced Ali Bello to the construction company handling the development, Metro Dec Construction Limited.He further revealed that he made several payments on Ali Bello’s behalf to the contractor, including N5.5 million, N9.8 million, N8 million and $6,000.Asked whether those payments represented the total amount received by the contractor, he answered in the negative.The witness also testified regarding Property No. 1058/1058, Cadastral Zone A08, Wuse II, Abuja, popularly known as Durban Street.According to him, Ali Bello requested that he source the property because he intended to develop a shopping plaza on the site.”I got him that property at Durban Street, we negotiated the property and it was bought at N650 million from FSC Food Limited,” he said.Following the examination-in-chief of the witness, defence counsel, Daudu, SAN, sought an adjournment, arguing that the proceedings had lasted for an extended period and noting that he had not previously requested an adjournment in the matter.Responding, Enitan, SAN, opposed the application and argued that the witness had spent less than 20 minutes in the witness box and had not introduced any new issue.”The evidence is consistent. The prosecution is mindful of time and has other witnesses in court. The witness may not be available tomorrow and that is why we kept the examination-in-chief brief,” he submitted, urging the court to refuse the application.After listening to the submissions of counsel, Justice Anenih adjourned the matter till June 17, 2026, for continuation of trial.