By Queen Kunde
Nizamiye Hospital, Abuja, has refuted claims that it refused to perform a life-saving surgery on former Senator Ibrahim Musa Kontagora due to an alleged $15,000 payment shortfall, insisting no such surgery was ever scheduled and that it had no role in the advanced stem cell therapy recommended by doctors.
Kontagora, who represented Niger North Senatorial District from 2011 to 2015, died at the facility after spending more than a week in a coma. His death sparked online reports alleging the hospital withheld critical treatment over unpaid bills.
Speaking to reporters, the hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Abubakar, described the allegations as “entirely false,” clarifying that the only procedure performed was a shunt to relieve blood clotting, which was successfully completed.
“There was no surgery planned,” Abubakar said. “What followed was only a doctor’s advice to try stem cell treatment, which we don’t even perform in-house.”
He explained that the stem cell option was an external procedure coordinated with international specialists and not part of the hospital’s services. “We don’t do stem cell treatments here. It’s handled abroad. The patient’s family even contacted us recently to help connect with specialists,” he added.
On the financial aspect, the hospital dismissed the alleged payment dispute, stating there was no record of any partial payment for stem cell therapy and that the family still had credit in the patient’s account.
“If anyone insists there was a pending surgery or payment issue, let them come forward with proof,” the hospital said, stressing that no advance payment was requested for any procedure after the shunt.
The management maintained that it had provided all necessary care within its capacity and that Kontagora’s death was not due to any delay or refusal of treatment.
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