Insecurity and protracted labour dispute between the State Government and staff of the Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH), were reasons why Governor Rochas Okorocha was not taken to the hospital for treatments when he was involved in an auto crash recently.

Okorocha’s vehicle had head-on collision with another vehicle belonging to one Osita Nnawuihe on Friday, April 19, 2013 at Umuoma, Orlu, while driving himself without the usual outriders and government house ambulance.

Daily Sun learnt that the governor was rushed to St. Mary’s Children and Community Hospital, Umuowa where he received first aid, while Nnawuihe was taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri for treatment.

The State Government and the teaching hospital staff had been at loggerheads over non-payment of 10 months’ salary arrears and other sundry allowances.

According to a government source who pleaded anonymity, it would be a great risk to have taken the governor to the hospital for treatment where doctors and the staff were not in the right frame of mind.

Daily Sun learnt that the hospital had in the recent time been witnessing exodus of doctors and other medical personnel because of the industrial crisis.  St. Mary’s Children and Community Hospital officials where Governor Okorocha received first aids treatment before being flown overseas did not give details.  The Hospital Administrator, Sir Louis Ekwebelem however, affirmed that only the governor, who sustained an injury in the head, was treated in their theatre by the Chief Medical Officer and the chief surgeon.

According to him, “We did not see the other man you are talking about.  He was not brought here”.

Man jailed 45 yrs for stealing Aregbesola’s phone

An Osogbo High Court presided by Justice Onyejide Falola sentenced a 31-year-old Kalvin Igha Igbodalo to a total of 45 years imprisonment without an option of fine for stealing a Sony Ericson phone valued at N50,000 belonging to Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbessola, during his swearing in ceremony in 2011.

However, the accused, who faced six-count charge and was subsequently sentenced to 10 years each for the first three count, also bagged five years jail term for each of the last three counts.  But the sentence would run concurrently.

The convict was said to have committed the offences on November 27, 2010 during the swearing in ceremony of Governor Aregbesola held at the State Government Technical College sports ground, Osogbo.

Kelvin, who was standing trial on six-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining property by false pretence, stealing, impersonation and advance fee fraud pleaded guilty to the charges slammed against him when the charges were read to him.  According to the charge sheet, Kelvin and others now at large, on May 24, 2011 impersonated the governor by using his phone with intent to defraud and obtained the sum of N500,000 from His Royal Majesty, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolara Owa-Obokun of Ujeshaland.

The prosecution, also the assistant principal state counsel, Mr. Biodun Badiora, informed the court that the convict committed the offence contrary to Section 8© and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act, 2006.

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