Okonkwo Samuel
The management of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Awka, Anambra State, has issued a public notice debunking claims made in a viral video circulating on social media concerning the treatment of the late Victoria Ogharibe.
According to the statement dated June 30, 2025, and signed by the hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Agbai Henrietta N. (ANIPR), the video contains untrue statements and gross misrepresentation of facts aimed at tarnishing the image of the institution. (Click to read full statement- Public Notice)
COOUTH clarified that the deceased was a victim of a road traffic accident who was initially rejected by a private hospital before being rushed to their facility. She reportedly arrived unconscious with multiple fractures and injuries. Emergency staff at the hospital attempted to resuscitate her, but she passed away less than two hours after her arrival.
The hospital further explained that the hand injuries shown in the video, particularly involving the thumb and index finger, were a result of the accident’s severity.
Management condemned the actions of the video’s creator, stating that he deliberately withheld vital information about the true condition of the deceased and instead propagated false narratives online. Interestingly, the hospital revealed that the same individual who made the damaging allegations also requested an out-of-court settlement with the management; raising questions about the motives behind the video.
COOUTH confirmed that the matter is currently being investigated by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). The hospital also announced its intention to take legal action to clear its name and protect its reputation from social media-driven defamation.
“It is childish and unnecessary for people to create such scenes, especially when the family never alleged coercion to bury their dead,” the statement concluded.
