A fundraiser that once united Nigerians in an outpouring of love and generosity has spiraled into one of the most painful controversies of the year. Mrs. Esther Olubunmi Bada, the soft-spoken 51-year-old Lagos mother affectionately called “Aunty Esther,” is battling stage-4 breast cancer that has spread to her axillary lymph nodes and beyond. In late October 2025, her story appeared on timelines across the country. The plea was simple and urgent: she needed chemotherapy fast. Nigerians responded with breathtaking speed. Within eight days, more than 13,000 people, from students sending ₦500 to diaspora uncles wiring millions, raised over ₦30 million. DJ Tunez, Wizkid’s official disc jockey, amplified the call. Popular physician Dr. Sina and the Wizarab Health Initiative stepped forward to coordinate and manage every kobo. For a brief, beautiful moment, it felt like the entire nation had become one family determined to save a stranger. Then the full truth emerged. Aunty Esther is a devoted Jehovah’s Witness. Since 1945, the faith has taught that accepting blood transfusions, even to save one’s life, violates the biblical command to “abstain from blood.” She arrived at the hospital with a signed, legally binding directive refusing blood under any circumstances. To her, the risk of eternal separation from her spiritual family outweighed the risk of death. The oncology team explained that advanced breast-cancer chemotherapy almost always causes life-threatening anemia. Without the option of transfusion, they could not ethically proceed. By the end of November, Dr. Sina and Wizarab were forced to withdraw from the case. On 2 December, Wizarab announced that after spending roughly ₦3–4 million on tests and consultations, the remaining ₦26–27 million would be handed directly to Aunty Esther’s family and her local Kingdom Hall. The reaction was immediate and visceral. Donors who had given sacrificially felt blindsided. Many pointed out that the original appeal never mentioned the blood-transfusion refusal, leading thousands to believe they were funding full, conventional treatment. Calls for refunds, redirection to another patient, or an independent audit flooded the timeline. A day later, the family released a calm, grateful statement: “We are overwhelmed by the kindness shown. Whatever happens to our sister is Jehovah’s will, and we hold firmly to the hope of the resurrection. ”As of tonight, 5 December 2025, the money remains untouched in limbo. The GoFundMe comments are disabled, several promotional tweets have vanished, accounts have gone silent or private, and no detailed financial report has been made public. What began as a celebration of Nigerian generosity has become a nationwide conversation about faith, transparency, and the responsibilities that come with crowdsourcing hope. This story is still unfolding. So we ask, with respect and with pain, what should happen to the money now? Should it be refunded to every single donor? Redirected to another patient who can accept the full care we thought we were funding? Released to the family and congregation as originally planned? Or held safely until an independent audit brings peace to everyone?
NIGERIAN TWITTER IN TURMOIL OVER ₦30M CANCER FUNDRAISER CRISIS
