Governor Charles Soludo has set up a team of Pathologists and other relevant professionals to probe the death of Mrs Chidiebere Iloka, wife of suspended Transition Committee Chairman (TCC) of Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Soludo had on August 12 suspended Mbazulike Iloka, the transition committee chairman of Nnewi North LGA over the death of his wife
Mrs Iloka was said to have collapsed and died on Aug 7 but people alleged that she was a victim of domestic violence.
The team of Pathologists were hired by both families and the State government to ascertain the true cause of Mrs Iloka’s death.
But in a twist, the first son of her family, Mr. Uchenna Ezenwonye, who had written a petition to Nigeria Police against his brother-in-law, accusing him of homicide that led to his sister’s death, has backtracked, now absolving him of any direct involvement in the death.
On Wednesday, Uchenna Ezenwonye withdrew the petition and swore an affidavit citing a clear and convincing briefing from his Pathologist who was among the panel that conducted an autopsy on his late sister, Chidiebele.
Dr Afam Obidike, the State’s Commissioner for Health said on Wednesday at a meeting with a team of Pathologists and concerned parties at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, where the body of the deceased was deposited, that “so many unconfirmed reports were flying around as regards the cause of her death, which led to suspension of the husband, Mr Mbazulike Iloka as the Transition Committee Chairman of the LGA,”
Obidike said Governor Soludo was very serious about the outcome of the autopsy, as he wanted a process that would be very transparent and the truth made open.
“Government is determined to know the cause of her death. Therefore, the governor ordered the constitution of the investigative panel.
“The panel comprised professors and a team of histopathologists from within and outside the state for fairness and equity.
“The family of the deceased, the family of the husband of the deceased, the Commissioner of Police, Anambra state government and Nzukora Nnewi were duly represented,” he said.
The Commissioner, who is also part of the team conducting the autopsy, appealed to the Pathologists to do their best to ensure parties involved in the matter were satisfied.
According to him, an autopsy is not for the dead but for the living to learn.
Also speaking, Mrs Ify Obinabo, state’s Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, said the result of the autopsy would bring to an end all the rumours flying around in the media.
Obinabo said that the wife of the governor, Mrs Nonye Soludo was also interested in the result of the autopsy.
The commissioner urged women in the state to remain calm and allow the government and the law to take its cause.
The lead Pathologist, who is representing Anambra State government, Dr Gerald Forae, from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, promised that the autopsy result would be ready within two to six weeks.
He explained that the result would pass through the right process and would be submitted to the State government through the Attorney-General of the state.
Meanwhile, Uchenna Ezenwonye, who earlier on a voice note countered the statements made by his father on a video interview with an Nnewi-based newspaper, maintained in the affidavit that they have found out the truth and the in-law Iloka was wrongly accused.
▪︎ By Global Upfront Newspaper