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Sick Enugu chef dies after allegedly rejecting surgery donation on faith grounds

Published

2 years ago

January 12, 2022

Trends Admin

Ogechukwu

Controversy has trailed the death of a chef, Ogechukwu, in Enugu State.

She was said to have died after battling ailments her friends identified as neurofibromatosis and spinal tumour.

The woman had reportedly been sick for over 10 months.

Her death, however, became public knowledge following an online outburst by one of her distraught friends, Can Mbanefo.

The aggrieved friend explained that when Ogechukwu’s health was deteriorating, an appeal was made and N200,000 raised for a minor surgery at the 82 Division Military Hospital in Enugu State, which was done.

According to Mbanefo, the surgery was to drain an abscess to prepare her for the main surgery that would cost about N4m.

Mbanefo said efforts were on to raise funds for the second surgery at the Memfys Hospital, when a Catholic community based in Italy took interest in Ogechukwu’s condition and raised money for the operation.

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However, when representatives of the Catholic community contacted Ogechukwu, whose phone number was attached to the widely-circulated message appealing for funds online, Mbanefo claimed that she declined the offer on the grounds of her faith.

“Oge told them it was against her Jehovah Witness faith to collect money from Catholic Church,” he wrote on Facebook.

The friend explained that he called Ogechukwu and she confirmed that she rejected the offer, adding that efforts to convince her to accept the offer proved abortive.

He stated, “To cut the long story short, when one of the guys from Italy called her again, she still rejected the offer from the Catholic community.

“She then told the brother that he could send his personal money to her instead of sending the donation from the church. Eventually, out of pity and for the sake of humanity, the brother sent something to her from his personal account.

“Meanwhile, it was Oge who chatted me and asked if I could link her up with any NGO. But when NGO came, her Jehovah Witness teachings could not allow her notice them.”

Following Ogechukwu’s death on Monday, January 11, 2022, Mbanefo, who was enraged about the development, made the post on his page.

Pictures of the deceased on her sickbed was attached to the post. Our correspondent observed that she looked frail in the pictures.

Mixed reactions, however, greeted Mbanefo’s account of the events preceding the chef’s death.

While some people expressed disappointment at her reason for rejecting the offer that they said might save her life, others, particularly her relatives, denied the report that she died due to her religious belief.

One Chizoba Okafor, who claimed to be the deceased’s cousin, stated that Ogechukwu’s condition worsened after she received treatment for the wrong diagnosis.

He added, “Jehovah’s witnesses did not kill my sister, plzzz dis is not d time to throw insult on her biko cos going Tru all ur comments it hurts like hell.

“D person dat started dis post forgot to mention dat wen she became sick d hospital dat started treating her was giving her tubaculoses drugs which was way off from wat was wrong wit her.

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“Even wen my mum who worked in d hospital asked d doctor he was not even completely sure of d test dat was run on her and he went ahead to administer tuberculosis drugs on her and those drugs made more damage.”

The deceased’s sister, Amaka, who spoke to our correspondent on Tuesday, also refuted Mbanefo’s claim.

She said, “That was not what happened; I know she had been receiving money from people throughout when she was in the hospital. She slimmed down a lot and the doctors said they could not operate on her unless she gained weight.

“She was always in constant pain and was battling a lot of things. She had a spinal cord injury and her lipid shifted from the waist. She had her first operation on December 25, at 81 Division Military Hospital.

“Why she didn’t have the major operation was because she slimmed down a lot; we were trying for her to gain weight before this thing happened yesterday.”

Regarding the offer her sister reportedly rejected, Amaka said, “I am not aware of that. Nothing like that happened.”

Punch

Related Topics:chef dies donation Enugu surgery

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Sokoto governor axes 15 district heads over insecurity, others

Published

8 hours ago

April 24, 2024

Trends Admin

Sokoto governor axes 15 district heads over insecurity, others

Sokoto State Government has sacked nine district heads for allegedly aiding insecurity and encouraging land racketeering.

The state government also sacked another six district heads said to have been irregularly appointed by the immediate past government of the state.

Abubakar Bawa, the Press Secretary to Governor Ahmed Aliyu, announced this while briefing newsmen on the development on Tuesday.

Those axed over alleged insecurity are the district heads of Unguwar Lalle, Yabo, Wamakko, Tulluwa, llela, Dogon Daji, Kebbe, Alkammu and Giyawa.

Bawa said the six district heads were dropped because of the way they were haphazardly appointed and their rejection by their people.

The affected six district heads are Marafan Tangaza, Sarkin Gabas Kalambaina, Bunun Gongono, Sarkin Kudun Yar Tsakkuwa, Sarkin Tambuwal and Sarkin Yamman Torankavwa.

“The cases involving District Heads of Isa, Kuchi, Kilgori and Gagi have been re commended for further investigations,” Bawa added.

However, Sarkin Yakin Binji, senior counselor in the Suktanate Council, was transferred to Nabunkari while the District Head of Sabon Birni was deployed to Gatawa.

Bawa said this followed the recommendations of the Committee on the Review of the appointments of Traditional rulers, Renaming of Tertiary Institutions and the Dissolution of Governing Boards of State Parastatals.

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Passengers overpower bandits in Zamfara

Published

9 hours ago

April 24, 2024

Trends Admin

Passengers overpower bandits in Zamfara

In a courageous act, the family of a bride-to-be and a group of passengers thwarted a kidnapping attempt by killing a terrorist in Zamfara State.

PRNigeria reports that the incident unfolded when the family of the bride-to-be and other travellers were ambushed by bandits along the Talata Mafara-Gusau highway.

The bride’s family had embarked on a journey to purchase clothing and other wedding materials in Kano. However, their plans took a harrowing turn when armed bandits targeted them.

An eyewitness, who spoke to PRNigeria, revealed that the response was spontaneous once the bandits had selected their victims.

Despite one of the bandits managing to escape, the brave passengers captured two AK-47 rifles.

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Narrating how the events unfolded, the eyewitness said: “A few kilometres away from the Fangal Tama checkpoint, the travellers heard gunshots echoing all around.

‘’To their shock, they encountered two well-armed bandits on motorcycles, blocking the road and halting vehicles.
“The bandits immediately ordered the young woman (the bride-to-be), her father, mother, and two other relatives to exit their car.

‘’With guns pointed at them, the terrified family members were coerced to follow the bandits into the nearby forest.
“Realising the grave danger they faced in forced abduction, the passengers decided to act swiftly. They rallied together and launched an attack on one of the two bandits.

‘’In a fierce struggle, they managed to overpower him, resulting in his instant death. The other bandit, however, escaped, leaving behind his firearm.

“The courageous group retrieved the two guns and emerged from the forest. They promptly handed the weapons over to the military at a nearby checkpoint.’’

Passengers overpower bandits in Zamfara

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BREAKING: EFCC freezes 300 illegal forex accounts

Published

22 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Trends Admin

BREAKING: EFCC freezes 300 illegal forex accounts

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has frozen 300 illegal forex accounts trading on a peer-to-peer platform.

The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, revealed that the accounts were suspended on Monday following a court order.

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Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, Olukoyede explained that over $15bn passed through one of the forex platforms in the last one year, outside the financial regulations.

He said the EFCC action was taken to ensure the safety of the foreign exchange market and protect the economy.