Deputy Speaker’s Convoy Linked to Fatal Crash That Killed Two Brothers Returning for Mother’s Burial

Deputy Speaker’s Convoy Linked to Fatal Crash That Killed Two Brothers Returning for Mother’s Burial

Two brothers tragically lost their lives in a fatal accident allegedly involving the convoy of the Abia State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Austin Okezie Meregini.

The crash occurred along the Obehie axis of the Enugu-Umuahia-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway, leaving other members of the Deputy Speaker’s convoy severely injured. Among them is the driver, who is reportedly at risk of paralysis without urgent spinal surgery.

The deceased were identified as Ifeanyi Maduako, 45 and Onyedi Obasi, 35, both from Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State. Heartbreakingly, the brothers had returned from overseas—one from Gambia and the other from the Philippines—for their mother’s burial, and were on their way back when tragedy struck.

Eyewitnesses alleged that the Deputy Speaker’s convoy was on high speed before ramming into the victims’ car, though police and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have yet to issue an official report. Both vehicles were moved to the Obehie Police Station, while injured security personnel are receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia.

In a statement, however, the Deputy Speaker denied being in the convoy at the time of the incident. His media aide, Grant Okeigbo, described the crash as “an unfortunate tragedy” involving the official pick-up truck and a Toyota Spider.

“Regrettably, both occupants of the Toyota Spider (The driver and passenger) lost their lives in the collision.

It is important to state clearly that the Deputy Speaker was not in the pick-up vehicle at the time of the accident. The truck was alone returning from an errand to Port Harcourt when the unfortunate accident occurred.

The Toyota Spider was driving against traffic (one-way) because of the bad condition of the other side of the lane. According to eyewitness accounts and the submission of the surviving truck driver, the Toyota Spider either suffered a burst tire or brake failure, which caused the Spider to lose control and veer into the path of the Deputy Speaker’s pick-up truck.

This resulted in a very bad collision between the two vehicles and, unfortunately, led to the death of the two occupants of the Toyota Spider.”

The Deputy Speaker further expressed shock over what he called “unconfirmed reports” circulating on social media, insisting that he has already sent emissaries to condole with the bereaved family and is working to support them.

He also revealed that his driver is on life support and may undergo spine surgery as recommended by medical experts.

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“The Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly considers this a tragic incident and sent emissaries to the bereaved family the following day after the accident (Monday, August 4th, 2025) while working round the clock with medical professionals to save the lives of his surviving driver and security details.

The deputy speaker is surprised and pained that such unconfirmed News is being peddled and circulated on social media spaces against his person without hearing from him, and does not believe that the bereaved family can be behind such misrepresentation of facts, considering the circumstances and the communications thus far.”

While the Deputy Speaker has maintained his innocence, questions remain over the role of political convoys and reckless driving in fatal accidents across Nigeria.