Nigerian-British businessman dies after surgery in Thailand

A 43-year-old Nigerian-British businessman and social media influencer, Igho Ubiribo, has passed away after a penis enlargement surgery during his holiday in Thailand.

The Daily Mail reported on Saturday that a UK coroner concluded that the surgery caused a deadly pulmonary embolism.

Ubiribo, also known as "Tiny", "Denisi", and "Ego", was on a luxury holiday in Bangkok with his wife, Danielle Simba Allen, when he chose to have the surgery.

The Daily Mail noted that 40 millilitres of hyaluronic acid and lidocaine were injected into Ubiribo’s penis at a clinic in Thailand back in March.

After the procedure, Ubiribo and his wife went for a massage at their Marriott hotel.

While getting the massage, he complained of chest pain and fainted twice.

He was rushed to Sukhumvit Hospital by ambulance, where he was initially responsive.

Evidence presented at an inquest at the Inner West London Coroners’ Court revealed that Allen told doctors her husband had just had penis filler injections.

Doctors suspected a pulmonary embolism and suggested a CT scan.

However, he lost consciousness before the scan could happen.

He was moved to an intensive care unit, where medical staff tried to resuscitate him for over 100 minutes.

Ubiribo died in the early hours of March 6.

Postmortem findings

A postmortem examination done in the UK later found material in Ubiribo’s lungs that matched the hyaluronic acid from the filler.

Pathologist John du Parcq told the inquest that the material in Ubiribo’s lungs was consistent with what was used during the surgery.

He said the findings indicated a pulmonary embolism, which matched the results of a Thai autopsy.

Coroner Jean Harkin ruled that Ubiribo died from a pulmonary embolism caused by the surgery.

A pulmonary embolism happens when a blood vessel to the lungs gets blocked. This can be life-threatening as it can suddenly cut off blood flow to the lungs and put a lot of stress on the heart.

Medical history

The Daily Mail reported that Ubiribo’s primary care doctor in London shared his medical history during the inquest.

He had previous surgery on his joints and was said to be pre-diabetic with gout.

The doctor noted that he did not have any other major medical issues.

Penis fillers with hyaluronic acid are a non-surgical option to increase penis size.

But medical experts have warned about serious risks that can come with these injectable fillers.

The Daily Mail said such procedures can cost thousands of dollars and the effects of hyaluronic acid fillers usually last several months before the body absorbs them.

Lavish lifestyle

Ubiribo was known for sharing his wealthy lifestyle on social media, boasting around 185,000 followers on Instagram.

He owned a home in Los Angeles worth about $1.1 million and an apartment in London worth around $600,000.

He married Allen, a fashion designer, in a lavish ceremony in Zimbabwe in 2022.

After his death, Ubiribo was buried in London in a gold coffin, which reportedly cost over $600,000.

Nigerian Afrobeats star Davido was among those who attended the funeral.

Davido, described as a childhood friend of Ubiribo, spoke at the funeral and expressed his shock over Ubiribo’s death.

He remembered Ubiribo as a man filled with energy and presence, saying it was hard to accept his passing.

This case has brought attention back to the risks of cosmetic penis enlargement procedures that use injectable fillers.

While hyaluronic acid is commonly used in cosmetic treatments, Ubiribo’s situation shows the serious complications that can happen from such surgeries.

The coroner’s conclusion was based on evidence presented at the inquest linking the material in Ubiribo’s lungs to the hyaluronic acid used in the surgery.