Enugu State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Lawrence Ezeh, has paid the bills of a woman, Joan Orajiobi, and her triplets, detained by an Enugu private hospital.

Orajiobi, who delivered the triplets at Praise and Grace Hospital and Maternity, Enugu, on New Year day, was detained over her inability to pay up.

She had unsuccessfully sought assistance from Nigerians and charitable organisations to settle the bill and go home.

However, touched by the family’s predicament, the commissioner, who also has triplets, came to the rescue.

He said: “My wife and I have a set of triplets, two boys and a girl, who are already in secondary school. So, I was touched by the story when I read it on Friday.”

Confirming the payment, Medical Director of the hospital, Shedrack Emeribe, who was absent when Ezeh visited, said he received a call that the commissioner had cleared all the bills.

The Guardian learnt that Orajiobi and her babies, two girls and a boy, had been detained since January 8, over their inability to pay N352,350.

The mother, who hails from Nnewi in Anambra State, but lives at Ologo Quarters.
, Uwani, Enugu State, said upon her discharge, the hospital held her and the babies, pending when the bills would be paid.

She said the total was N482,350, but her husband was only able to pay N130,000, leaving a balance of N352,350.

According to her, the bills were high because the triplets were born via Cesarean Section. Orajiobi thanked the commissioner for his benevolence.