Michael Coker, a National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) student, passed away after unexpectedly collapsing during an exam at the school’s Victoria Island study center in Lagos.

Last Tuesday, December 16, Coker was reportedly left alone and gasping for air for more than fifteen minutes.

On Tuesday, December 23, a student known only as Bukola told Punch that a female senior lecturer allegedly prevented students from attending to Coker during the incident..

 

Bukola said, “It happened around 11am on Tuesday, shortly after we entered the hall for the examination. It wasn’t a crowded period; the corridors and staircases were free. 

“Coker was standing, with another student behind him. He suddenly collapsed, and the student behind him held him and placed him on the floor.” 

She alleged that the female invigilator from an adjacent hall entered and ordered students to return to their seats. 

“She started chasing everyone away to write their exams, even though the student was on the floor, gasping. Someone told her that a student had collapsed, and she replied in Yoruba, ‘E fi sílè, ó máa dìde,’ meaning ‘Leave him; he will get up.’” 

According to Bukola, students became worried and began asking questions about Coker’s condition. 

“We asked if he had epilepsy, and they said no. Another person asked if he was convulsing. Someone even suggested putting a spoon in his mouth. 

“All this while, he was still on the floor, jerking and gasping for life, but she kept chasing us away,” she added. 

Bukola further claimed that it took several minutes for help to arrive. 

“This went on for more than four minutes. It was only when his breathing became unstable that one of the invigilators said they had called a nurse. Even placing him on a chair took another five minutes. By then, he was already gasping badly. 

“The nurse eventually came and administered first aid before he was taken downstairs through the elevator. We were told to continue with our exams. It was only after we finished that we were informed that Coker had di£d.” 

Aother student and class representative of the deceased, identified only as Prince Preskit, told the publication: 

“He was about to log into the system for the exam when he collapsed. I think the invigilator only wanted people to give him space. 

“It was when they realised that something was seriously wrong that he was taken downstairs and rushed to the hospital before his eventual de@th.” 

He added that tensions rose afterwards. 

“Students started shouting that it was the woman who did not allow them to take him to the hospital on time. I wasn’t inside the hall when it happened, but I heard he fainted and there was confusion,” he said. 

Preskit further disclosed that Coker was taken to Bonny Camp Hospital. 

“He was taken there, but I heard he was rejected and later di£d on the way to another hospital. It was an accident. These things happen suddenly; it’s not something people are always prepared for,” he said. 

However, Bonny Camp Hospital, the management denied rejecting the deceased.
“The patient was not rejected,” a hospital official told Punch. “He was referred to another facility where oxygen would be available.”