Assault on ex-President : Onitsha Chamber of Commerce insists on justice

…as Soludo Pays hospital bill

By, Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

The Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, ONICCIMA, on Wednesday commended governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, for vowing to offset the hospital bill of her ex-Presient, Okay Akaneme, who was assaulted by personnel of Anambra State Waste Management Agency, ASWAMA.

The ONICCIMA President, Augustine Ibeme, pleaded for expedited action for immediate release of funds as the latest information according to him revealed that the victim’s health condition is deteriorating.

Ibeme who made this known while briefing journalists in Onitsha, Anambra State, insisted that justice must be secured for the victim, Akaneme.

According to him: “We request for an urgent decision regarding transferring him to a better facility once recommended by the medical experts.

“We wish to remind the state government that the culprits who committed this dastardly act are still walking about freely.

“We therefore request for immediate prosecution of these officials as this will in the minimum serve as a deterrent to other contractors and government agencies,” he pleaded.

The President stressed the need for the state government to eradicate recurring incidents of officials acting beyond their mandate as well as illegal operations by some revenue agents.

He lauded various bodies, stakeholders, especially the media who have contributed immensely towards championing this course of creating awareness on the ugly incident to the appropriate authorities.

Recall that it was during the 37th Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC) meeting that the report of the assault was received after the report of the fact-finding team sent by the Soludo government to ascertain the true condition of the victim went to Enugu to see his condition physically.

It will be recalled that Akanem was manhandled when his assailants stormed his house in the early morning of the fateful day and beat him to a coma which resulted in breaking his head and waist,for allegedly owing sanitation levy.