A business analyst and cyber security consultant, Mr Samuel Aiyeku, has cried out for justice after being bedridden for almost three years following an accident caused by a ‘reckless’ driver.
Lamenting neglect by the transport company, Mr. Samuel Aiyeku who boarded God is Good Motors (GIGM), on May 8, 2018, with ticket number H1633714 and seat number one enrouting Benin, Edo State capital from the GIGM terminal in Utako, Abuja, said the accident took place after Abaji.
Narrating his ordeal to Daily Times, Samuel said that since then, he has been moving from one hospital to another and has undergone three different major surgeries, yet the condition has refused to improve.
He stressed that the accident was avoidable as administrative negligence and recklessness on the part of the driver contributed majorly to the unfortunate incidence that claimed the lives of two other passengers with many others injured.
Aiyeku who is due for a hip replacement surgery in January, has called all relevant agencies to prevail on GIGM to pay all incurred costs claims and damages to help him facilitate the operation.
“The accident was due to their driver’s negligence and them not having a good system in place to handle their corporate social responsibilities to their customers.
“I am calling on relevant government agencies to get justice for me and let GIGM pay up all incurred costs claims and damages. Above all to serve as deterrent to all private Inter-slale transport owners that they are not above the law and they should put in place all necessary safety procedures for responsibilities to their customers.”
Speaking further, Samuel Aiyeku said that life has been unbearable for him and his family as his children barely feed talk more of going to school since he had been bedridden for almost three years now.
Narrating how it happened, he said “Just after Gwagwalada, all the passengers noticed the driver’s consistent high speed and kept cautioning the driver but he refused to adhere to their appeal.
Aiyeku alleged that just after Kwali, the bus driver allegedly increased the volume of the car stereo so that they could barely hear themselves or caution him while driving on 140-150 as shown on the speedometer.
Speaking further, he said that while the driver was trying to swerve to get out of potholes he lost control of the vehicle, and while trying to step on the brake he swerved to the bush beside the road and collided with a tree where he sustained multiple fractures.
He added that the lady who sat directly behind the driver’s seat died immediately, and another passenger also died much later while the rest of the passengers sustained various degrees of injuries.
The victim said, “The Road Safety team at Abaji came to our aid with an ambulance to take us to Ideal Hospital Kotonkarfe for attention to our injuries.
“I have incurred several cost and damages till date. I left there on the 9 May, 2018 for Abuja via a chartered ambulance to a private Orthopedic Hospital at Gwarinpa in Abuja. At the Orthopedic Hospital Abuja, the Orthopedic Consultant report said I had a mid-shaft fracture of the femur and fracture-dislocation of the head of the left femur.
“I had three difficult operations and between 9 May, 2018 to 29 October, 2018, I was admitted and discharged from the hospital. GIGM representative only came thrice (in May, twice and July, once) until I was discharged and no phone calls despite the Utako terminus being a ten minutes drive from the hospital.
“It is worthy to note that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) made efforts for GIGM to take up their corporate social responsibility but they failed to turn up.”
When contacted on phone, the Legal Director of GIGM, Paul Osuigwe, said that the company after several meetings with the FCCPC, had paid N2.5 million on humanitarian grounds to Mr Samuel’s account as ordered by the Commission.
Meanwhile, the victim has since rejected the offer saying “the tone of their letter which ought to have been copied to me was very dehumanizing to my dignity and right. I am not seeking for alms like the letter has proven without any time of apology to me.
“I have been out of business for more than two years. My kids are out of school. I can’t attend to my family and carrier responsibility the accident.”
He further noted that N2.5 million is nothing considering the cost and damages incurred so far such as implant and rehabilitation cost among others since 2018, not including the the final hip replacement surgeries.
“I am a victim of cruel injustice to humanity. Imagine, I have been on bed since May 8, 2018 till date. Apart from the financial compensation, what are the referrals by the council on my other prayers in my petition.”
