Wada yet to return to office as policeman dies in Kogi speaker’s convoy accident

Barely one week after the convoy of Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada, was involved in a motor accident, which claimed the life of his Aide-de-Camp, the convoy of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Mommoh Jimoh Lawal, was on January 2, 2013 involved in a motor accident along the Okene-Lokoja Road, leaving his police escort, Constable Akeem Lamidi, dead.
This, however, came on a day Wada’s Senior Assistant on Media and Strategy, Jacob Edi, dismissed a media report that the governor had resumed work, after being discharged from hospital.
Sources said the speaker was returning from Okene when the police escort vehicle, a Toyota Hilux van, in which Lamidi and others were travelling, collided with a truck.
It was also gathered that Lamidi, who hails from Erin Ile in Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State, was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Lokoja for treatment.
He eventually died there.
The Chief Press Secretary to Lawal, Austin Akubo, confirmed Lamidi’s death.
Akubo pointed out that it was not Lawal’s vehicle that got involved in the crash, but that of the police escort who died.
He said: “The speaker’s vehicle is not affected.
“He is hale and hearty.
“The speaker was ready to take him to the best hospital in Nigeria for the best medication.
“But, unfortunately, he gave up the ghost this morning.
“However, his remains have been taken to his home town in Erin Ile, Kwara State for burial today (yesterday).”
The governor was involved in a ghastly motor accident on December 28, 2012 where his ADC died on the spot.
Meanwhile, Edi, while confirming in a telephone interview with THISDAY that Wada was still in Abuja, stated that there was no reason for Wada to rush back to work.
The governor, who was involved in a ghastly car accident last Friday and admitted at Cedar Crest Hospital, Garki 2, Abuja, where his fractured femur was operated upon, left the private health facility on Tuesday morning.
His doctor, Dr. Felix Ogedengbe, who is also the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, had certified Wada fit and discharged him on the understanding that he could recuperate fully at home for the broken thigh bone to heal completely.
According to Ogedengbe, Wada was given the kind of treatment that would enable him move around but that the full healing of the fracture would take about six months.
But a section of the media reported that the governor had resumed work at Government House, Lokoja, barely a day later.
“There was no haste about leaving the hospital or about resuming work,” Edi told THISDAY on Friday, stating that everything about Wada’s admission and discharge was based on this doctor’s advice.
“He has not resumed work,” he added.
He noted that the publication was the handiwork of a lazy journalist, who based his report on a statement issued by politicians.
“His Excellency is still in Abuja recuperating based on the doctor’s advice, and there is no truth whatsoever that he has returned to Government House, Lokoja, to resume work,” Edi emphasised.
ThisDay.