Family confirms death of Akhigbe, former CGS in the US

The head of the Akhigbe family, Chief Joseph Akhigbe, on Tuesday confirmed the death of the former Chief of General Staff,  Vice Admiral Mike Akigbe.

Joseph confirmed the death  in their Fugar country home in Estako Central Local Government Area of Edo.

Yesterday same family of the former Chief of General Staff described as untrue, an online report that the former number two man died in a London hospital.

The elder brother Chief Joseph Akhigbe, said that the news about his death was shocking to the family because “it is not true and it is really embarrassing to us.

He said “My brother is stabilising in an American hospital and not even London as erroneously reported. As I speak to you now, the report in my opinion is pure speculation, the paper said he died in a London hospital but my brother is in an American hospital and he is stable
Mike Akhigbe

But toady Tuesday the story has changed same elder brother Chief Joseph Akhigbe said that “At about 1 a.m, Mike’s first son called me from the U.S. and said that his father, my brother, is dead,’’ he said.

He said that his brother’s son told him that Akhigbe’s remains were still in the U.S and that no arrangement had been made to bring it home.

The family head said that a condolence register had already been opened in the family’s compound in Fugar.

Sympathisers, including Mr Emmanuel Momoh, the Chairman of Etsako Central Local Government visited to condole with the family.

Momoh described Akhigbe’s death as “a big blow to Estako people and Nigeria in general’’.

Also the Nigerian Navy on Monday urged the public to disregard the story that Vice-Adm. Mike Akhigbe, a former Navy Chief of Staff, was dead.

In a statement, the Director of Navy Information, Commodore Kabir Aliyu, said the report in the media was misleading.

“The Naval Headquarters has made concerted efforts to authenticate the story with the admiral’s family in the U.S. and it was found out that the admiral is alive,’’ the statement said.

It noted that the report appeared on the front page of a national newspaper, adding:“ This shows that the reporter who filed the story did not cross-check his facts with the family before going to the press.

“The publication has, therefore, caused the Akhigbe family and Nigerians in general unnecessary embarrassment.’’

The statement advised journalists to authenticate their stories with relevant authorities, especially the death of prominent citizens, in the spirit of objective journalism.