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Sunday Michael, a witness at the accident scene of late ex-Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) housemate Patrick Fakoya, popularly known as\u00a0Rico Swavey, on Thursday, gave an account of what happened.<\/p>\n
Rico\u00a0died on 13 October\u00a0after being involved in a ghastly motor accident on October 11.<\/p>\n
Until his death, he was a singer, lawyer and actor born in 1993.<\/p>\n
During a news briefing organised by the late Rico\u2019s family, Michael, an Uber driver, said while trying to convey the deceased to a hospital after the accident, he never perceived any alcohol on his body.<\/p>\n
The witness said a passenger in his car at about midnight, along Sangotedo\/Ajah Road in Lagos, suddenly saw a car hit a concrete road demarcation.<\/p>\n
He noted that a considerable sound likened to that of a dynamite was heard from the accident direction, which was scary.<\/p>\n
\u201cNobody went close to rescue the victim as I beckoned on people around to help, but nobody was willing to. I went close to the scene and discovered that the car was locked, badly damaged, and the engine split into two,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said he had to break the car\u2019s windscreen to gain access to the vehicle when he discovered that Rico, the only victim, was already unconscious and bleeding from the nose.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooking at Rico Swavey, he looked exactly like my brother, and I couldn\u2019t leave him. So, I took it upon myself to take him to the hospital, and he was not drunk because I did not smell alcohol on his body or mouth.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDoren Hospital was the closest hospital to the accident scene, just five minutes drive, so I took him in my car to the place, it took over two hours before he was attended to, and after being examined, a doctor said he needed instant surgery, demanding for some deposit before he could be treated.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI took him to another nearby, Evercare Hospital, where he was attended to after one hour. Meanwhile, all this while, nobody called Rico\u2019s line until after arriving at Evercare when one of his friends called, she later came to join me, but at the sight of him, she collapsed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEvercare also demanded some deposit, but when they discovered that he was a celebrity, they decided to commence treatment on him. If they gave Rico Swavey prompt medical care, he would have been alive now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The deceased\u2019s cousin, Mayo Dele, noted that the essence of the media briefing was to call the attention of the Lagos State Government and the Nigerian medical system to the truth surrounding Rico\u2019s death.<\/p>\n
Mr Dele said that the briefing was also to ensure necessary steps were taken by all concerned to guide against the recurrence of a similar case where individuals that need urgent medical care would be denied, due to financial problems, leading to untimely death.<\/p>\n
He said they should prioritise human life regardless of what was at stake.<\/p>\n
Mr Dele expressed disappointment as none of the officials from Doren or Evercare Hospitals honoured the invitation for the briefing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Lagos State Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice and Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives were invited but never showed up. Evercare Hospital, where the late Swavey was eventually treated, billed the family the sum of N4.2m before treatment could commence.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe family deposited N3.5m for late Swavey\u2019s treatment, and upon his death, the hospital management disclosed that they used N1.9m and that the balance would be refunded. They have not remitted the balance as promised,\u201d Mr Dele said.<\/p>\n
He said the money generated from the public, meant to cater for Swavey\u2019s medical bills, was still with Paystack, an online payment platform.<\/p>\n
According to him, Paystack notified the family of its plan to carry out some verification before they released the money.<\/p>\n
He said when the family gains access to the money, they will use it to invest in immortalising the late Rico Swavey.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe, the family of late Rico Swavey, appreciate everyone who has sympathised with us at this trying time. We plan to establish a formidable foundation in honour of the late Swavey, and they will channel it toward solving a particular problem. It will be something of value to keep Swavey\u2019s name alive. We had over 400 people donate on that platform. We appreciate everyone for the kind gesture,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Leroy Fakoya, late Rico\u2019s elder brother, advised the state government that to restrict lanes on the highway, it should use plastic and reflective materials instead of concrete.<\/p>\n
Mr Fakoya, sober over his younger brother\u2019s death, said that Rico died due to the negligence of the medical team at Evercare and Doren Hospitals.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Swavey had got treatment early enough, he would probably still be alive now, and they should not prioritise money over human life. They only started treating him when they discovered he was a celebrity. What if he is an ordinary fellow who is not a public figure? We need to change this narrative,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Michael Adigun, late Rico Swavey\u2019s assistant, called on medical personnel to ensure that individuals needing medical attention were attended to promptly.<\/p>\n
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