Abia State Governor Alex Otti has ordered the immediate suspension of Onyebuchi Steven, a driver working in the Government House Umuahia, who was involved in an accident with a commercial motorcycle rider in Ohafia, on Sunday, pending an investigation.
A statement from the state’s government house, as made available to newsmen by the Chief Press Secretary, Kazie Uko, said an investigation will be conducted on the matter to establish the culpability or lack thereof of the driver.
According to the press release, Otti also directed the Commissioner for Health, Dr Ngozi Okoronkwo, to follow up and ensure that the injured okada rider, Orji Felix, received the best medical attention possible, at no expense to him or his family.
Steven, the driver of a Toyota Hilux pick-up, reportedly collided with Felix, who had just picked up a passenger by the roadside and was about to ride off.
The incident happened on Federal Road, by Old Soldier junction at Ohafia, while the motorcyclist and his passenger were promptly evacuated to a hospital near the accident scene, according to the state government.
While the passenger was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital in Ohafia and discharged, Felix, according to Okoronkwo, suffered multiple fractures on his left leg and right arm.
“The 18-year-old Okada rider was subsequently evacuated in an ambulance from Ohafia to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia, after he was attended to by Dr. Okoronkwo, who applied first aid on him and bandaged his injured leg and arm.
“Felix is currently admitted at the Crowther Ward, FMC, where he is recuperating. Nurses on duty, as of Sunday night, described his condition as very stable,” the statement read.
The patient, now receiving full medical attention, was seen interacting and responding to questions posed to him. “The pain is not much again,” he replied when asked about the pain in his left leg.
The state government added that Okoronkwo later returned to the FMC on Sunday night to monitor the patient’s progress, even though it appreciated the efforts of on duty in taking care of the injured okada man while reiterating Otti ‘s directive that the victim should receive the best medical attention.
