An Abuja mother claims a doctor stole one of her twins during birth and refuses DNA testing. See why this case is shaking the medical world. Read full story.
…. A harrowing tale of alleged child theft, police intimidation, and a desperate fight for justice is rocking the heart of Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.
An Abuja-based woman, Mrs. Eunice Bright Ekwok, has accused a medical doctor of stealing one of her twins at birth, during a cesarean delivery at Divine Rain Maternity Clinic, Sauka, Abuja. According to her, she was declared to be carrying a twin pregnancy during an antenatal scan in April 2021—but only one baby was handed over after delivery.
Mrs. Ekwok, now 32, recounted the nightmare that began with what should have been joyful news. She was told by Dr. Timothy Zeje, the clinic’s owner, that she was expecting twins. But shockingly, he denied her access to the scan results, claiming it was against hospital policy to release them. That, she said, was her first red flag.
Her husband, Bartholomew Bright Ekwok, 34, was skeptical at first and demanded the scan results, but Mrs. Ekwok, trusting the doctor’s word, convinced him otherwise.
Weeks later, the couple’s world shattered when Mrs. Ekwok underwent a cesarean section while unconscious. After regaining consciousness, she was handed only one baby—despite carrying twins.
“I asked about my second child. They told me the baby died during delivery and was ‘scattered,’” she sobbed. “I asked for the bones, for anything to show my baby existed—but they gave me nothing.”
Worse still, when she later asked to see her medical file, hospital staff claimed it had been “burnt.” Suspiciously, she said she saw other patient files intact.
Shocking Discovery: A Mirror Image at Immunization Centre
Months passed until a shocking moment during a routine immunization visit to AMAC Hospital, Besan. Mrs. Ekwok spotted the wife of Dr. Zeje—who had previously mentioned she was also expecting a child around the same time. The baby in the woman’s arms bore an uncanny resemblance to her own child.
“Same face, same dreadlocks, same legs—everything. I was confused and shaken,” she said.
Instead of raising alarm, Mrs. Ekwok and her husband devised a plan. She began visiting the doctor’s home under the pretense of financial hardship, offering clothes for sale. Her mission? To confirm if the baby was indeed hers.
But their pursuit of truth turned into a nightmare. The couple were arrested multiple times, accused of attempting to steal the child, and even sent to prison. Each time, they pleaded for a simple DNA test to settle the matter—but the police refused, allegedly influenced by the powerful doctor.
“Why is a DNA test being denied? Why the cover-up?” Mr. Ekwok asked. “All we want is to know the truth. If the child is ours, let justice prevail.”
Cross River Group Joins Fight for Justice
The matter has now caught the attention of Think Cross River, a sociopolitical group advocating for the rights of indigenes. Mr. Ekwok, who hails from Cross River State, has received the backing of the group’s convener, Papa Dom Cklamz Enamhe.
“No child of Cross River extraction will be hijacked by anybody,” Enamhe vowed. “We will ensure a DNA test is done, and justice is served. Poverty is not a crime.”
He revealed that Governor Bassey Otu and Cross River senators have been briefed, and the state will not relent until the truth is revealed.
Police Silent, DNA Still Denied
When contacted, Dr. Zeje declined to speak, referring reporters to the Force Intelligence Department, claiming the matter was in court. However, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) said it had not yet received a formal complaint and promised to investigate.
Meanwhile, the alleged stolen twin is now nearly three years old. The Ekwoks say they will not back down, insisting they will pursue legal action, including court-ordered DNA testing.
“Let the truth come out. Let a simple test show who the real parents are,” they pleaded.
This story raises critical questions about patient rights, medical ethics, and abuse of power. Is a poor couple being silenced because they dared to speak truth to power?