A transport union worker, Sunday Anyau, and the owner of a Bus Rapid Transport, Alhaja Sidikat Bello, are at loggerheads over who should foot the medical bill after the former lost his arm in a crash involving the bus and a trailer.
While Anyau blamed the woman for not showing enough concern for him, the owner claimed he caused the accident, insisting that she had done the little she could to assist him.
The 34-year-old told Saturday PUNCH that he had boarded the bus from Oshodi where he worked around 8:30pm when he closed from work.
While the journey progressed, the bus, which was heading for Sango, reportedly rammed into a truck that was stuck in traffic at Amje Bus Stop, inwards Tollgate, Ogun State.
The Abia State indigene, who said he became unconscious following the crash, explained that he discovered his arm had been cut off.
He said, “The accident happened on April 13, 2018 when I was returning to my residence in Lafenwa, Sango. I boarded the BRT after close of work. On getting to Amje Bus Stop, we suddenly heard a bang. That was the last thing I heard. I found myself lying in the bus. I discovered that my arm was gone. With blood gushing out, I looked for it around, but could not find it. Other passengers also sustained injuries.
“I was taken to the Sango Police Station to get a police report which I tendered at a nearby private hospital. The hospital referred me to Sango General Hospital. The following day, I was admitted to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in Ikeja.”
Anyau stated that Bello visited him at LASUTH on April 19 along with her son, who reportedly took his photo on the hospital bed.
He said the woman gave him N30,000 out of the N115,000 hospital bill, adding that the hospital requested N350,000 for the grafting of the severed upper arm.
“I learnt my picture was taken to the Alakuko Police Station, where the bus was detained. I was still at the hospital when the bus was released.
“The hospital said I needed to undergo a surgery to cover the opening at the upper arm. They charged N350,000 which I could not afford.
“The woman promised to foot the surgery bill. After I was discharged, she also promised to be sending money to me, but she did not keep to her promise. I started disturbing her and about a month ago, she sent N10,000 into my account. I spend N2,000 every two days to dress the wound. I have exhausted my drugs and I can no longer endure the pain. It is much,” he said.
However, Bello, claimed to have supported Anyau with about N90,000, stating that he caused the accident by distracting the driver in an attempt to extort money from him.
The woman stated that she was still struggling to raise funds to repair “the badly damaged bus,” noting that she only assisted Anyau because she felt pity for him.
She said, “The man was neither a passenger nor a conductor. The bus was going to close around 12:00am; no passenger was there. He wanted to collect money from the driver and was disturbing him. The bus ran into a truck because he made the driver to lose concentration. He hanged onto the bus; that was why he lost his arm.
“The first day I visited him at the hospital, I bought drugs worth N31,100 for him. After then, I sent my son to give him N20,000. He told me that the operation would cost N150,000. I said I could not afford it because the bus that would have been my source of income had broken down.
“I discussed with his bosses and family on the way forward. Three days after, his brother said he had raised N70,000 and I sent another N30,000. After he was discharged from the hospital, I sent N10,000 to him. I have the evidence of all the payments.
“I have spent close to N800,000 to fix the bus, yet, it is not in good condition. I am an elderly person. The man is just trying to extort money from me. The driver ran away after the accident and I have not been able to reach him.”
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