One year after Reverend Elijah Esei sustained very serious injuries in a car crash that led to the amputation of his left leg, he is yet to regain his freedom, following his inability to pay his hospital bill totalling N1.5m.
Esei was involved in the accident in July 2012 while travelling from Lagos to Ebonyi for the burial of his late mother. However, the 38-year-old cleric landed at the Accident and Emergency Ward of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).
Narrating the circumstances of the crash, the native of Ezi-Edda Etiti community, in Afikpo South Local Government of Ebonyi State who also presides over Lagos-based Hope Faith Mission, observed that the tragedy would have been averted were it not for the blithe recklessness of the driver.
“The driver was on top speed and every entreaty to him to be careful and obey road traffic regulations by passengers fell on deaf ears,” he recalled.
“I was sitting with him in the front and I saw what happened when he was attempting to overtake a trailer whose driver would not give him the chance to do so.
“He rammed into the trailer. I was one of those seriously injured. We were rushed to the Central Hospital, Benin-City after the accident but I was later referred to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), due to the seriousness of my case same day, while others with minor injuries were discharged.”
Esei’s leg was amputated to save his life; and ever since, he has remained in hospital, totally neglected Okeyson Investment Services Ltd, owners of the vehicle in which he travelled.
“I have been discharged by the hospital management since 2, May 2013, but I cannot leave as the accumulated bill of N1.5m has not been settled,” he lamented.
“I have made several telephone calls to the management of Okeyson Investment Services Ltd to come and off-set the medical expenses to enable me go back to my family in Lagos, but they have not responded. They claimed they were responsible for the payment for the ambulance vehicle that conveyed me from the Central Hospital, Benin to UBTH and nothing else from them.”
Even after his wife, Sarah, visited the company headquarters at Jibowu in Lagos, no progress has been made. Remaining in hospital has cost him dearly, including the chance to stand by his son who is recuperating from a separate accident.
“I have not been able to see my child who was also involved in an accident and unable to walk since January, this year,” he said, begging well-meaning Nigerians to help in persuading Okeyson Investment Services Ltd to pay the bill since it was its employee who drove the vehicle.
Also speaking on Esei’s fate, National Coordinator of Save Accident Victims Association of Nigeria (SAVAN), Dr. Eddy Ehikhamenor berated the transport company for its indifference to his plight.
“We have persistently made efforts to reach the transport company to come and pay the medical bill of Rev. Esei but they have rebuffed all our pleas,” he said. “I have contacted the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Benin-City to assist the victim by ensuring that vehicles belonging to the company are seized until they positively step into the case, but they have making promises upon promises.”
He urged the National Assembly to promulgate laws compelling transport companies to be responsible for the treatment of victims of accidents caused by their vehicles.