Amid recent warnings regarding the Ebola virus, Babatunde Gbadamosi, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) running mate for the Lagos governorship, took to social media to advocate natural remedies. In multiple updates, he urged the public to consume large amounts of bitter kola (orógbó) and mega-doses of vitamin C, asserting they could guard against or heal the deadly infection.
Gbadamosi referenced early laboratory work by pharmacognosy scholar Professor Maurice Iwu and alleged that scientists at the University of Lagos had confirmed the findings. He also maintained that an infected healthcare worker from the 2014 outbreak survived isolation through aggressive vitamin C supplementation and rehydration, framing current health alerts within a broader political conspiracy.
A rigorous examination of medical records and scientific literature, however, shows that these assertions misrepresent scientific data and distort historical facts.
Early Lab Tests Never Proved a Cure, Says Lead Scientist
Back in 1999, Maurice Iwu collaborated with US researchers to evaluate extracts from Garcinia kola against viruses in controlled cell cultures. While preliminary petri-dish experiments revealed that certain plant flavonoids could suppress viral replication, the study stopped far short of demonstrating clinical effectiveness or safety in people.
Iwu has repeatedly clarified this distinction. In media statements in 2014 and 2015, he emphasized that the initial discovery was merely an exploratory starting point, not an established therapy. He affirmed that investigations had stalled and remained inconclusive—a consensus later echoed in peer-reviewed evaluations.
No Confirmation From University of Lagos Scholars
Gbadamosi’s assertion that academics at the University of Lagos corroborated bitter kola as an Ebola cure is similarly unfounded. Published work from the institution touching on Garcinia kola centers on plant morphology rather than viral therapeutics. Another related study from UNILAG faculty evaluated how local health workers understood Ebola protocols during the 2014 crisis. Neither study validated bitter kola as a therapeutic intervention.
False Narrative Regarding Ebola Survivors and Vitamin C
The candidate’s historical anecdote about a surviving nurse also crumbles under scrutiny. The facility at the epicenter of Nigeria’s 2014 outbreak was First Consultants Medical Centre, not ‘First Foundation Hospital.’ Regrettably, Justina Echelonu, the nurse who provided care to the index patient, succumbed to the infection.
One prominent survivor from that facility, Dr. Ada Igonoh, published an exhaustive first-hand account of her recovery. She credited standard supportive care, particularly oral rehydration solutions to counteract catastrophic fluid loss, explicitly noting that patients did not take experimental supplements or immune boosters. There is no documented medical evidence attributing any patient’s survival in Nigeria to high-dose vitamin C.
Supportive Hydration vs. Unverified Remedies
While standard medical protocols from global bodies like the World Health Organization emphasize aggressive fluid replacement to manage Ebola symptoms, this legitimate supportive measure does not legitimize claims that vitamin C or bitter kola can neutralize the pathogen. Public health authorities continue to caution against relying on unverified remedies during viral outbreaks.
