Mr. Folajimi, the Nigerian man whose wife tragically died after a hospital allegedly refused to treat her without a N500,000 deposit, has responded to harsh criticism from journalist and broadcaster Dr. Reuben Abati.
Abati, speaking during a broadcast on Tuesday, faulted Mr. Folajimi for what he called “irresponsible behaviour,” accusing him of failing to prepare financially during the nine months of his wife’s pregnancy. He suggested that Folajimi was wrong to approach the hospital without a substantial deposit, saying:
‘‘The whole substance of this conversation is that according to Mr Folajimi, when he got to Al-Salam Convalescent center as the hospital is called, he was asked to deposit N500, 000 and the man was saying ‘please admit my wife, I will go and look for the money’. When you impregnate a woman, you can’t come at nine months and you are saying just treat her, let me go and look for the money. There are many people who do that. They put you under pressure.
Mr Folajimi behaved in an irresponsible manner”
Responding to Abati, Mr Folajimi, in a video shared online today April 10, said he saved about N100,000. Unfortunately, his wife had an emergency and he did not have the N500,000 the hospital demanded, but would have raised it if he was given enough time.
‘’With due respect, this is not my first child. When my wife was pregnant, we were taking care of her to the best of my ability and I never came public or to you to ask for you to borrow me money for antenatal or feed my children.
Excuse me Sir, I saved money but I didn’t save up to N500, 000. I saved money for that day but they asked for N500, 000 deposit, not full payment. I didn’t have that. All the money thatI could have gathered that day wouldn’t have passed N100, 000. I don’t know if it is an offense not to have up to N500, 000 when you wife is about to give birth. I don’t know if it is an offence to now live below N500, 000 but you are now saying it is the ‘’highest irresponsibility” because I don’t have N500, 000. So it is even a crime to be poor in Nigeria”
Folajimi said himself and others were able to raise the said N500, 000 which they used in paying for the mortuary and other things after her demise.
Watch the video he shared below;
“With due respect, I saved money but I did not save up to N500k deposit they asked for” – Nigerian man who was criticized by Reuben Abati for not having money to deposit at hospital where he rushed his deceased pregnant wife to, speaks 💔 pic.twitter.com/TZGzMzY0po
— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) April 10, 2025