Nigerian minister poisoned in Abuja, fights for life in hospital

Nigerian tourism minister has been hospitalised in Abuja after suffering acute poisoning from unknown origins, Peoples Gazette was told, as her family members fear time was running against their efforts to save her life.Â
Lola Ade-John, 60, was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, shortly after she started manifesting symptoms of her poisoning, according to family sources familiar with her ordeal. She has spent four days at the facility as of Friday morning, The Gazette heard.
Ms Ade-John, a career banker and tech investor, has been on a machine to aid her breathing, our sources said. The specifics as to what substance she ingested and how could not be immediately established by The Gazette. The police and the State Security Service did not immediately return a request on whether or not any investigations had been opened into the matter.
Her worsening situation has further set the family against the government, with the permanent secretary of her ministry said to be in disagreement as to whether she should continue receiving treatment at a public hospital or be moved to a better-equipped private facility downtown.
The permanent secretary, Ngozi Onwudike, was said to have insisted that the minister should not be transferred because the FMC is a public hospital and its services wouldn’t attract substantial charges to the government, a position her family rebuffed. But they remained with her as they could not raise funds to move her to a private hospital, our sources said. A phone number for the permanent secretary did not connect on Friday morning.
A spokesperson for the FMC did not immediately return a request seeking comments from The Gazette about Ms Ade-John’s condition.
Ms Ade-John was appointed as a minister by President Bola Tinubu in August. She was immediately touted as one of the few cabinet members appointed from outside the political beltway. She was based in London for years before she was asked to return to the country to serve by the president.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Heading 4
Makinde’s candidate Adekanmbi will win Oyo governorship poll; but he should forget presidency: Primate Ayodele
The cleric’s prophecy came amid political calculations and realignments ahead of the 2027 general election.

States
ISWAP chief photographer, other media team members killed in sustained military operations
The spokesperson said several other key fighters sustained severe injuries as they fled under intense military pressure.

Heading 2
New Jersey registered 6,600 non-citizens as voters in error: Governor SherrillÂ
The governor attributed the error to a software glitch in the state’s Motor Vehicle Commission.

Abuja
Three Abuja security guards in court over alleged theft of scaffold pipes worth N1.8 million
The prosecutor said that the offence is contrary to Sections 79 and 289 of the Penal Code.

NationWide
Navy hands over two rescued victims of human traffickers to NAPTIP
Mr Folorunsho said that the handover was conducted by Forward Operating Base (FOB) BADAGRY, on July 19 at the agency’s Lagos Zonal Command in Ikeja.

States
Insecurity: Tinubu approves establishment of army battalion in Kwara
The battalion will be stationed in Omu-Aran, the headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area.





