Security and health experts in Glasgow, Scotland are battling to unravel the mystery surrounding the sudden death of a young Nigerian businessman, John Oguchukwu. This was on May 10, 2023.
John, owner of JP Stores Glasgow, whose 46th birthday was scheduled to take place on August 28 this year died in his sleep some hours after he returned from work. Efforts by his heartbroken wife, Paulene Oguchukwu (PhD) to wake him failed as the deceased did not respond to his usual telephone alarm. She discovered her husband was breathless.
Amidst the confusion, Paulene alerted John’s elder brother, Uchenna when the Emergency Medical Team in Glasgow yielded no result, failing to revive him. Even though her husband had an appointment with his medical doctor at daybreak, he never showed signs of illness.
According to her, John had completed his normal daily activities before returning early in the morning on that fateful day. An autopsy was conducted on the deceased at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital on May 23, 2023. However, surprisingly, the cause of John’s death was unknown.
Certifying this position, Doctor Ming Han Lim ordered further investigation into John’s body fluid, whose result sources say could be released in six months.
Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health, on June 5, granted permission allowing the remains to be flown back home. Assuring the Health Ministry on May 24, 2023, that the young John's body poses no danger was James Down (in charge of embalmment).
John who was awarded a Master of Arts and Science (Msc.) in Business and Management by the University of Glasgow on 13 June 2014; also left two daughters: Jessica and Holy as well as a 15-year-old son from a lady-friend of Anambra state origin.
Amidst the disturbing incident, when the remains of the young man called the ‘pet brother’ of the family arrived in Nigeria on June 10, 2023, the eldest sibling, Mathew Uwakwe collapsed and died in a nearby village.
Sources close to the family alleged that Mathew could not bear the reality of the death of their “pet brother” who unfortunately died in his prime.
Some family members at home who could not come to terms with the unexpected development insisted that John was in a coma and would wake. However, Mathew heard that John’s corpse had already arrived in Lagos.
A particular source further disclosed that though ‘Dee Mathew was sick, “we did not know who informed him that the late John’s body had been brought to Lagos and was billed to arrive in Imo state, their home state, the following day”.
Mathew was said to have been out of his house to recharge his telephone so that he could keep abreast of the unfolding developments. He suddenly slumped and died while he waited for the unstable power supply in the village to be restored.
The deceased John Oguchukwu
Meanwhile, shocked friends and well-wishers of the Oguchukwus across Nigeria and beyond have supported the bereaved family.
A call engineered by former Eze Ndi Igbo in Italy, Chief Clement Maduneme, Uruaku of Uruala, and the Ex-President of the Anglophone Catholic Community, Padova, Chief Ferdinand Obiapuna generated sustained support for the campaign.
Erudite African Author and former Senior Correspondent of Business Day Newspaper, Abuja, Nnorom Oguchukwu says he is short of words.
In a telephone call, he hinted that a funeral is being organized for their beloved brothers, Mathew and John. This will be done next Friday, July 28 2023 in their Isunjaba hometown in Imo state.
