By Tony Edilke

ENUGU—THE lawmaker representing Awgu South Constituency in Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Emmanuel Maduabum, died yesterday after two weeks in coma, following a ghastly auto crash along Enugu – Port Harcourt expressway that earlier claimed three lives, including his wife, his driver and another unidentified commuter bus driver.

The lawmaker was confirmed dead by doctors at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Enugu, who had battled to save his life since the accident occurred a fortnight ago.  He was said to have gone into coma and could hardly speak because of severe injuries he sustained in the crash.

A 608 Mass Transit bus had collided with the Mercedes Benz car of the lawmaker  who was returning to Enugu after  a meeting with members of his Awgu South Constituency that weekend and both drivers of the vehicles and the lawmaker’s wife died instantly.

Corpses of his wife and the two drivers were deposited at the UNTH mortuary, while he was admitted at the hospital for treatment but his condition was said to be critical throughout his stay at the intensive care unit.   Some of his colleagues who visited him in the hospital said he would require the special grace of God to survive the crash.

Members of the state assembly suspended their sitting after news of their colleague’s death was received by the speaker, , Rt. Hon. Eugene Odoh, yesterday.

The speaker was said to have led the lawmakers to the hospital to confirm the information and made arrangement with the hospital authorities to preserve his corpse, pending his internment.

Vanguard learnt yesterday that the deceased lawmaker would have been flown overseas for proper medical attention as reportedly recommended by doctors at UNTH, but his family could not meet the huge financial involvement.