Sunmade Akin-Olugbade, brother to Bolu Akin-Olugbade, late
Nigerian billionaire businessman, says N10 million was paid at Paelon Memorial
Hospital in Lagos before he was admitted for COVID-19 treatment.
The economist brought the revelation to light in a recent interview
with Asabe Afrika TV while reflecting on his late brother’s last moments.
Sunmade said Bolu arrived in Nigeria from London in October
last year — about a month after he also came into the country.
He, however, said his efforts to stop the socialite from
attending parties amid the coronavirus pandemic proved abortive, as the
deceased always claimed he had his face mask on.
According to him, Bolu was doing fine until New Year’s Eve
when he complained that he was feeling unwell.
Sunmade said they had initially sent him bitter kola, ginger
among other local herbs, but had to rush him to the hospital in an ambulance
when his condition deteriorated.
“He joined me here (Nigeria) in October. He was hale and
hearty. Most of the Christmas period, he was attending parties and whenever l
talk to him he will respond that l have my facemask as well as shield on,” he
said.
“During the Owu festival in Abeokuta, he went there. He
attended parties over here. He made up with his old friends. On Christmas day,
he was with his younger brother and his wife at Ikoyi in Lagos.
“He was okay until a day before New Year when he said he was
not feeling well. We sent him this bitter kola, ginger and others. He said he
had already taken them but was finding it difficult to breathe. So, we arrange
someone to take oxygen to him at the house.
“All his friends rallied round but the situation got worse
and we had to rush him to the hospital in an ambulance.”
He added that upon arriving at the hospital, they could not
get a bed space for Bolu despite the deceased’s personality. According to him,
Bolu was considered only after they had paid the said amount.
“But we couldn’t get a bed. Everywhere was filled up, in
Lagos here. The situation with this pandemic is really serious. We had to pay
N10 million to get into Paelon hospital. It’s not about the money now, what I’m
saying is that if someone of high network could not get a bed, what do you
think will happen to ordinary citizens,” he said.
Sunmade also called for holistic measures by the Nigerian
government to tackle the novel disease, adding that the country is already in a
crisis situation.
“There are a lot of people dying that are not being
reported, that is the honest truth. We are in a crisis situation in the country
right now. I don’t think the government is galvanising and mobilising people to
handle the situation,” he added.
“It’s already getting out of hand. We are lucky that the
weather is in our favour. But despite that, we still have a crisis situation.”
NigerianEye had reported how Bolu died of complications fromthe killer virus on January 13.
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