One of the media aides of President Muhammadu Buhari, Lauretta Onochie, has pinned the murder of Dr Chike Akunyili on the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
In a post she circulated this morning on various platforms, along with a video of a man in suits and tie lying down on the roadside with serious wounds on his face purported to be Dr. Akunyili, the controversial presidential aide on social media wrote:
“Dr Akunyili, the widower of our Dora Akunyili has been gruesomely murdered by IPOB. His security detail, a priest and his driver, were also murdered.
“He came to Onitsha for a function in honour of his late wife.
“It happened on his way back.
“May his soul rest in peace.”
But an enquiry made by News Express from a close family source who was also at the function which the late veteran medical doctor attended said any sudden blame of the murder on IPOB, prior to a thorough investigation, by the Presidency is nothing but a case of playing to the gallery to earn cheap and undeserved political points.
According to the source, “People are even pointing accusing fingers on Fulani herdsmen while the Presidency is quick to blame IPOB.
“Rubbish! Why play politics with everything? People are blaming herdsmen and she’s talking of IPOB. Why should IPOB kill him? He was a private citizen and a man of peace.”
News Express reports that Dr. Akunyili, Proprietor and Chief Medical Director of one of the largest medical institutions in Enugu, St. Leo’s Hospital, was shot dead on Tuesday evening along Enugu – Onitsha old road.
News Express learnt that the renowned medical practitioner was on his way back from a meeting of the University of Nigeria Nsukka Alumni Association (UNAA) where the late Dora was honoured with an award when his vehicle was attacked.
“He was killed along with his driver and police orderly,” a reliable source told News Express.
The event the late Dr. Akunyili attended held at Sharon Hall, All Saints Cathedral, Onitsha and was organised by UNAA, Onitsha branch.
A source at the meeting said of late Dr. Akunyili: “He spoke glowingly about Dora and made a donation of 500k to the association.
“He was there with his son, Obum now working with Anambra state government.
“We saw them off to the car and it was emotional when Obum hugged him tight as both of them separated to join their respective vehicles.
“Obum was in a white Hilux while the man was in a big Jeep (I think Prado). God have mercy!”
