?CLO sends SOS to Governor Soludo, others

By CHIDI MATTHEW NWACHUKWU

The Anambra State branch of the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), has called on the State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to urgently intervene in the medical plight of Hon. Okechukwu Akaneme, a former President of the Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (ONICCIMA), who has been hospitalized since last year following spinal cord injuries sustained from the alleged brutality meted out at him by agents of the Anambra State Waste Management Agency (ASWAMA).

The CLO commended Governor Soludo's humanitarian gesture in approving the payment of Akaneme's hospital bills until he is discharged, but noted that the hospital has stopped his treatment due to a remaining debt of N33,218,689.

According to the group, Akaneme's total hospital bills amounted to N64,190,424 from October 14, 2024, to March 9, 2025, with N30,971,735 already paid and a balance of N33,218,689 still pending.

It added that the Anambra State Government paid N20,000,000 out of the total bill, while family, friends, and the public covered part of the N30,971,735.

The hospital has refused to continue treatment except on a prepaid basis.

The organisation's leaders, Comrades Evangelist Vincent Ezekwueme and Chidi Mbah in a press statement, urged Governor Soludo to direct the Commissioner for Health to settle the outstanding bill immediately.

?We commend the Governor and government of Anambra State for the bills paid already as well as appeal to Gov. Soludo to complete the payment for the treatment and healing process of Mr.Akaneme by giving directives for the balance of N33,218,689.00 of his hospital bills to be paid,? the group said.

The CLO also appealed to the President of ONICCIMA, Chief Sir Augustine Ibeneme, to establish a Special Trust Fund to alleviate Akaneme's and his family's suffering.

?We are equally appealing to President of Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Chief Sir. Augustine Ibeneme, to institute a Special Trust Fund for Hon. Akaneme, to help ameliorate the excruciating sufferings, agony, plights, and predicament of his family,? the group appealed.

The group also joined the Akaneme's family in demanding the arraignment of those responsible for his brutalization as a form of justice and deterrence to potential defaulters.

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