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A family court in Cross River State, the Calabar Magisterial District, has issued an order compelling the University of Calabar (UNICAL) Teaching Hospital and Mr. Oham Samuel Oke to administer a blood transfusion and other medical interventions necessary to preserve the life of Ruth Oham Samuel, a two-year-old girl currently in intensive care.

The order, issued by Presiding Deputy Chief Registrar, Mrs. V.S.S. Ebaye, was granted in a motion ex-parte dated and filed on May 8, 2025, brought by the Registered Trustees of Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI) through its counsel, O. N. Tateh, Esq.

The suit, NO: MC/FC/21/2025, has the Registered Trustees of Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI) as the applicant and the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital and Mr. Oham Samuel Oke (father of the child) as the 1st and 2nd respondents.

The enrolled order, signed by the Registrar, Kate Michael Enoh, which SaharaReporters obtained on Friday partly reads: “Upon this motion ex-parte coming before this Honorable Court in its competent jurisdiction on Thursday, the 8th day of May, 2025. And upon hearing the applicant’s counsel, praying the court for the reliefs set out on the face of the motion paper.

“And this Honourable Court having given due consideration to the affidavit filed in support of the application, I am persuaded to hold that the order herein sought is bona fide, meritorious, and giving validity under the Child Rights Law of Cross River State, 2023 and so ought to be granted.

“It is therefore hereby granted as prayed. Consequently, it is hereby ordered as follows: That the 1st respondent, the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, and Mr. Oham Samuel Oke are hereby compelled/directed/mandated/authorised to administer a blood transfusion and/or such medical intervention as may be reasonably required to preserve the life and well-being of Ruth Oham Samuel (F), 2 years, 9 months, currently in their care.

“That an order is hereby made dispensing with the consent of the parent of the said Ruth Oham Samuel in light of the urgent medical necessity.

“That the parents of Ruth Oham Samuel are hereby compelled within their means to bear the financial implications of the treatment of their child, Ruth Oham Samuel.”

However, SaharaReporters gathered that the order was issued following the refusal of Mr. Oham Samuel Oke, the father of little Ruth, to administer any blood transfusion on the girl due to their faith.

An eyewitness, James Ibor, told SaharaReporters that Oke and his family had mobilised other members to the hospital to ensure that no blood transfusion was effected on the dying child.

“They are getting physical and trying to take the child away from the hospital against medical advice,” Ibor said.

Meanwhile, human rights organisation, Humanist Enabling Love Project (HELP), has applauded the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI) for obtaining a court order to treat Ruth, who urgently needs a blood transfusion in Calabar, Cross River State.

The group, in a statement by its founder, Dr. Leo Igwe, said that doctors at the university teaching hospital had recommended an urgent blood transfusion for Ruth, or she would pass away within 72 hours.

Regrettably, the parents of Ruth declined, stating that they were members of Jehovah’s Witnesses and their faith did not allow blood transfusion.

HELP commended BRCI for taking this life-saving measure and urged medical officers to be vigilant and ensure that parents and guardians do not endanger or undermine the health and treatment of children using their mistaken and misguided faith positions.

The statement partly read, “HELP commends BRCI for taking this life-saving measure. It urges medical officers to be vigilant and ensure that parents and guardians do not endanger or undermine the health and treatment of children using their mistaken and misguided faith positions.”

The group also pointed out that the belief against blood transfusion is based on biblical texts and that this belief is not divine but rather human.

“Nigeria must pay close attention to this development, as there are over 400,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses in the country, and efforts must be made to restrain parents who are Jehovah’s Witnesses Travel guides

from harming their children and relatives using their misguided faith notions,” Igwe stated.