By Austin Ogwuda
CONTRARY to the claim that the Nigerian actor John Paul Odonwodo, aka Junior Pope was given a life jacket but rejected same during the ill-fated boat ride that capsized in Anam River, Anambra State, Nigeria on April 10, 2024 was not true, investigation has revealed.
Although the celebrated actor has since been buried in his hometown, Ukehe, Nsukka, Igboetiti local government area of of Enugu state, Nigeria, fresh facts have emerged to the effect that it was when the accident happened that the boat operators brought in new life jackets.
The Chairman of the Committee set up by the leadership of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the boat accident, Prince Uvo Kevin Oghogho stated this in a chat with Benjamin Njoku of Vanguard Newspapers.
Oghogho, who is also the AGN National Taskforce Chairman spoke after presenting the Report of his Committee to the National Executive Council of the Guild in Lagos recently.
Read the shocking revelation which has raised questions on whether the law enforcement agents that handled the investigation earlier, would be revisiting by interrogating this fresh angle.
According to Oghogho, no life jacket was provided to the late actor and that only two passengers were on board, namely the Director of Photography and the Sound Engineer were wearing life jackets, which he said, they hired from the boat operators.
His words, “as soon as the accident occurred, the boat operators quickly brought in new life jackets. All along they were not making life jackets available to passengers.
“The outboard engine fibre boat conveying the cast and crew of the movie produced by Adamma Luke departed Asaba jetty with Ononno jetty as destination. As they embarked on the journey at about 12.30 pm, according to the survivors, Jnr Pope was making a video, while his colleagues on board were catching fun with him.
“The boat driver’s attention was drawn to the scene and as he was looking back to catch a glimpse of the action while he was at high speed, he eventually crashed into a crossing local fishing canoe leading to the speed boat capsizing and emptying all the occupants into the Anam river. Five passengers died on the spot, while seven were rescued alive”.
Oghogho dismissed the insinuation that Jnr Pope was killed and thrown into the river following the blood that was gushing out from his nostril, noting that Jnr. Pope was not the only victim who was bleeding from the nose as another victim also did.
Credit: Vanguard