Paralysed nursing mother seeks justice after electric pole accident

Muyibat Bisola Onilude, a nursing mother, is calling for justice after a defective wooden electricity pole fell on her, leaving her paralysed.

The incident occurred on the evening of July 20, 2018, as Onilude was returning home from work on Lagos Island with her seven-month-old daughter. According to her account, the pole collapsed while she was walking along the road to her residence, pushing both her and her daughter into a nearby gutter.

“The last thing I remember is being pushed into the gutter, and I went into a coma for four months,” Onilude stated. Upon regaining consciousness, she learned that her child had survived and had been rescued by a young man who alerted older residents, including some Hausa security men.

Onilude was initially taken to Isolo General Hospital before being transferred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), where she underwent multiple surgeries. “My neck was fractured, and an implant had to be done to restore it,” she explained. Despite the surgeries, she has remained paralysed and relies on carers for daily assistance.

Her family contacted the nearby branch of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company on Okota-Isolo Road following the incident. Onilude claims that operatives of the electricity company removed the fallen wooden pole at night to cover up their negligence.

Doctors have now recommended another surgery, estimated to cost around N32 million, to improve her condition and aid her mobility. The surgery is scheduled to take place in a hospital in Chicago, USA, where Onilude has already been referred.

Onilude continues to seek justice and hopes for assistance to cover the cost of the surgery, which she believes will significantly enhance her chances of recovery.