The offspring of the late Prof. Dora Akunyili, former director-general of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), express their profound dismay at the prolonged quest for justice in the case of their father, Chike Akunyili, whose life was tragically cut short two years ago.
Chike Akunyili met an untimely demise, having fallen victim to a heinous act of violence on September 28, 2021, when he was senselessly murdered by unknown assailants in Umuoji, situated within the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Addressing the pressing issue, Obumneme Akunyili, a member of the Akunyili family, took the platform to speak on their behalf during a significant public hearing conducted by the Anambra State Truth, Justice, and Peace Commission. The commission was convened to address matters concerning violence and violence-related deaths in Anambra, shedding light on the family’s plea for justice.
Obumneme said, “My father’s death was senseless, violent and barbaric. We are still trying to come to terms with it as a family.
“We are still waiting for answers to that killing, there are rumours but no answers, there have been no trials, I don’t think anybody has gone to court to answer for that murder.”
Obumneme said his father and the driver of the vehicle bled to death despite the fact that hospitals were close by.
“My father had about 10 per cent survival chance. It was a traumatic injury that required a whole lot to save him but he did not get to the hospital before he died.
“If he had reached the hospital, we would know there was an attempt, that they did all they could to save him but nothing like that.
“There was a hospital seven minutes away, Borromew was 15 minutes away from there but no attempt.
“The driver’s case was worse, he was shot and people were asking him his name, where he is from and he was bleeding to death, people were trying to make viral videos,” he said.
The commission led by Chidi Odinkalu commiserated with the Akunyili family on the incident.
