Soludo consoles family of late President of Onitsha Chamber of Commerce allegedly brutalized by revenue agents

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Mr. Ikechukwu Akaneme

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By Madu Obi

Anambra State governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has sent a condolence message to the family of the late President of Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Okechukwu Akaneme, who died following complications suffered as a result.of brutality inflicted on him by suspected agents of Anambra State Waste Management Authority, ASWAMA.

On October 11, 2024, some people who claimed to be from ASWAMA, stormed Akaneme's residence in the commercial city of Onitsha and beat him to stupor on the allegation that he hadn't paid his sanitation levy.

His alleged refusal to go with them as demanded led to their manhandling him. After the beating, they ran away, leaving Akaneme half dead.

That beating left him paralyzed from shoulder down. He was taken to Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, NAUTH, Nnewi and an examination conducted on him showed that his spinal cord had been damaged about 65%.

He was later referred to the Memphis Hospital, Enugu, where, despite over N20 million spent, Akaneme eventually died.

In a condolence message sent through the state Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, Soludo said: "We acknowledge Mr. Akaneme's immense contributions to the development of our society as former President of the Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Onitsha Federated Chapel, and a prominent leader in the Onitsha business community.

We are deeply saddened by his untimely demise, which we understand resulted from the scuffle between him and the police attached to ASWAMA, who had gone for his arrest on the orders of the court.

The Anambra State government offered N40 million towards his medical bills in demonstration of our commitment to supporting him during his time of need.

As you navigate this difficult period, please know that you are not alone. The Anambra State government stands in solidarity with you.

As the police are still investigating the matter, the government will continue expressing its compassion for the family.

May God grant you the strength to bear this loss, and may Mr. Akaneme's legacy continue to inspire us to build a better and more compassionate society."

At the heat of the controversy surrounding Akaneme's ordeal, the Managing Director of ASWAMA, Chief Mike Ozoemena exonerated his agency, adding that the pay - direct contractor involved in the incident has since been suspended.

Describing his encounter with those who manhandled him as unfortunate, Ozoemena said that ASWAMA did not authorize the contractor, who was said to have recruited miscreants to carryout his job, to manhandle someone to the point of breaking his spinal cord in the guise of enforcing payment of sanitation levy.

The ASWAMA boss said that the police are already investigating the matter.