A former Vice President of Nigeria during Shehu Shagari’s presidency, Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, passed away at 10:00 pm in a London clinic on November 19, 2017.
The statement announcing his death was issued by his family and signed by his brother, Igwe Laz Ekwueme - who is the traditional ruler of Oko in Anambra State.
According to The Sun, the statement said: “Ekwueme family regrets to announce the peaceful passing away of their patriarch, the former Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme GCON.”
Alex Ekwueme had collapsed at his Enugu residence on November 1, 2017, and lapsed into a coma. He was later rushed to the Memfys Hospital of Neurosurgery, Enugu.
According to the family, his ill health was attributed to a chest infection.
On November 3, 2017, President Buhari in a series of tweets via his official Twitter account approved the immediate medical treatment of Alex Ekwueme outside the country. He also approved funding of the air ambulance and cost of treatment.
It was learnt that doctors advised that he should not be moved abroad until his condition stabilised. After his condition had stabilized he was moved by an air ambulance to a clinic in London where he passed away from an undisclosed illness.