Remembering Former First Lady, Stella Obasanjo & What Led To Her Death In 2005.

Dr. Mena & Stella Obasanjo.

The procedure, which was intended to be routine, ended in tragedy after a series of critical medical errors and delays in post-operative care.

During the surgery, Dr. Mena mistakenly inserted a tube used for fat removal into Mrs. Obasanjo’s abdominal cavity, puncturing her colon and lacerating her liver.

These injuries led to severe internal complications that required urgent medical intervention.

The court later found that after the operation, the doctor was not readily available, having turned off his mobile phone. 

It was also established that there was a significant delay in transferring Mrs. Obasanjo to an intensive care unit and I instead of arranging for an ambulance, Dr. Mena transported her in his private car, a decision that further delayed critical treatment.

In September 2009, a court in Málaga, Spain, convicted Dr. Mena of negligent homicide and was sentenced to one year in prison and banned from practicing medicine for three years. 

In addition, the court ordered him to pay €120,000 (approximately $176,000 at the time) in compensation to Stella Obasanjo’s son, Olumuyiwa Obasanjo.

The case drew international attention and remains one of the most widely discussed medical negligence cases involving a prominent African public figure abroad.

You would recall that the former First Lady was planning her 60th birthday and needed to adjust her body to fit into her 60th birthday gown, arguably imported for the purpose of making her appear glamorous, but she didn’t live to have the gown on.