Fresh reports say that doctors’ negligence was responsible for the death of Oluchi Anekwe, the student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, who died on Tuesday after being electrocuted, and not just the electrocution.
According to the victim’s sister, Nkem Anekwe, the refusal of the institution’s medical centre to attend to Oluchi as soon as possible was the real reason the first-class student died on Tuesday, September 8.
The Punch reports that the same high-tension wire that caused the death of Oluchi also fell on her younger sister, Uju Anekwe, when they were returning from an evening mass on Tuesday, but the latter survived.
Academic activities at the university have been grounded since the incident happened, as the students of the institution took to the campus to express their displeasure over the mishap.
On visiting the family of the deceased on Thursday, Nkem, a lawyer, stated that both women were initially rushed alive to the medical centre, and Oluchi’s death was as a result of late treatment.
“It was not only Oluchi that the wire fell on; it also injured Uju. I got to know about the incident at about 8pm. I quickly rushed to the university’s medical centre. When I got there, Uju told me that she and Oluchi had held each other’s hands as they walked to the hostel.
“The wire fell on Oluchi’s left arm, and the two of them were electrocuted. Oluchi lost consciousness immediately, while Uju managed to call out to passersby to help them.
“Both of them were rushed to the medical centre. The officials on duty requested their identity cards and said they would not do anything until the cards were brought. When I got to the centre, Oluchi was alive, as her eyes were open and her body was warm and normal, but only her left arm was stiff. I asked the medical personnel if any first-aid was given to her, but they did not reply me,” she said.
The father of the deceased, Chief Basil Anekwe, while expressing his disgust at the incident, said the family was at a loss.
Siblings of the late Oluchi. Photo credit: The Punch
According to him: “On Sunday, when I saw Oluchi, she said I should send her some money for upkeep. On Tuesday, I was planning to send about N30,000 to her, when I learnt about the incident. I was initially told it was a mere accident.
“I am only glad that my daughter did not die returning from a party or an offensive place; she died returning from the presence of God. The university delegation this morning brought a letter to me from the VC.”
Remains of the late Oluchi will be taken to the Igbo-Etiti local government area of Enugu state on Friday, September 11, for burial.
Jeremiah Olatinwo, the coordinator of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), in a statement, stated: “The NANS shall be taking up this case alongside the University of Lagos Students Union to see to it that Oluchi’s family is compensated for the damages caused by the electricity distribution company.
“The unfortunate injury to Oluchi is an injury to all Nigerian students and we will not keep quiet in the face of the threat to our fundamental rights to life.
“We call on the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and the Senate Committee on Power to sanction the electricity distribution company for its noncompliance to safety and health guidelines in its distribution and transmission.”
Contrary to the reports of negligence by the university, the institution’s public relations officer, Olagoke Oke, said workers were at the scene to attend to the injured women.
“It is not true that the negligence of officials caused the lady’s death. The UNILAG workers were on ground, and they were with her till the very end,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has lent her voice to those blaming the federal government and the institution’s management over the death of the 22-year-old.
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