From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
Mr. Umoru Imokha Abdulahi, whose wife’s medical bills was allegedly offset by Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo, after the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH’s) detention has denied receiving any help from the governor.
Recall that after media report of the detention of Abdullahi’s wife and child for the family inability to offset the medical bill of N330,000, Edo State governor, Okpehbolo, reportedly ordered the immediate offset of Abdullahi’s family bills at the UBTH.
In a statement announcing the offset of the bills which was signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Fred Itua some days ago, Okpebholo, represented at the UBTH by his Special Adviser on Health Matters, Precious Ogboru, and Executive Assistant, James Iorkusah, was said to have offset the medical bills of a family which the statement addressed as Innocent Akpan as against Umoru Imokha Abdulahi.
The CPS statement reads: “The governor, represented by his Special Adviser on Health Matters, Precious Ogboru, and Executive Assistant, James Iorkusah, visited the mother and her newborn at UBTH and emphasized the state government’s commitment to the health and welfare of its citizens, especially the vulnerable.”
It added: “The affected family, led by Mr. Innocent Akpan, expressed deep appreciation to the governor for the timely intervention.
“According to Akpan, his wife, Mercy Bassy, and their newborn had been detained for over two weeks due to unpaid medical bills.”
However, reacting to the alleged offset of the medical bills, Abdullahi said he did not receive a dime from the governor, adding that his family was suddenly chased out of the ward like common thieves.
Abdullahi said he was even called and insulted by someone who said he paid N400,000 to assist him and yet he could not call to express his appreciation.
He said the person called him to say he learnt that the state governor has waded into the matter.
He said he didn’t not receive any money of such adding that to make matters worse, when they learnt that the governor was coming to the hospital to help him, they hurriedly sent him away from the ward.
Abdullahi, who said he has nothing currently doing after being sacked at his place of work, appealed to UBTH to release any money meant for his family, just as he begged well-to-do Nigerians to come to his aid.
Contacted on the phone by journalists, UBTH Public Relations Officer, Joshua Uwaila, referred journalists to the government house to get their story.