🏛️ Chinese National Seeks Bail Over Life-Threatening Cancer, Cites Poor Prison Healthcare
By Esther Onyegbula
A Chinese citizen, Tianzhen Ye, currently serving a two-year sentence for narcotic-related offenses in Nigeria, has appealed to the Federal High Court in Lagos to grant him bail on medical grounds, citing a life-threatening cancer diagnosis.
Ye, who was arrested in November 2024 and pleaded guilty in January 2025, is incarcerated at Ikoyi Correctional Centre, Lagos. He is now seeking either a commutation of his sentence to a fine or bail to enable him to pursue urgent medical treatment outside the prison system.
⚖️ Inmate Diagnosed with Blood and Lung Cancer
Represented by his lawyer, Mary Dibiaezue, Ye told Justice Deinde Dipeolu that he has been diagnosed with both blood and lung cancer and has received treatment at facilities including Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Federal Medical Centre Yaba, and a military hospital in Ikoyi.
Ye claims that the prison medical unit has spent over ₦5 million on his treatment so far, but the situation has become financially unsustainable, especially considering that the facility caters to over 3,500 inmates.
“The correctional service cannot afford to continue my treatment, and my health is rapidly deteriorating. I am not a flight risk and will comply with all court directives,” Ye reportedly told the court through his counsel.
🩺 Human Rights and Health Crisis Behind Bars
The case underscores growing concerns about the inability of Nigerian correctional facilities to cater to inmates with serious health conditions, especially terminal illnesses. Legal experts say such requests for medical bail are often a test of the country’s justice and human rights system.
Justice Dipeolu is expected to deliver a ruling on Ye’s application after reviewing his medical documents and reports from correctional and hospital authorities.
