A former President of Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Mr. Okechukwu Akaneme, who died from spinal chord injury inflicted on him by some Anambra Revenue agents when they went to his house to forcibly arrest him will be buried on October 16, 2025.
According to the burial programme from his family, Akaneme will be buried in his home town Umuona, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State after a burial mass at the Catholic church in the town.
The final journey to the great beyond started on Tuesday, September 23, 2025 with a Mass at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha where he was a member before his death.
In his brief homily during the mass the Vicar of Basilica, Rev. Father Ikenna Jideofor, said that everyone must die.
He said man was made of soul and body and the soul would one day return to the owner and the body return to the dust.
The priest urged christians to firmly believe in God and do his will while still alife
He condoled Akaneme’s immediate family, the wife, Prof. (Mrs) Ifeoma Akaneme, their children and the entire Akaneme family of Umuona.
Present at the mass were former chairman of Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN), South East, Sir Azubuike Okafor, Barr. Efobi and Mr. Chinedu Nwonu of Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, former Archdiocesan Laity Council Chairman, Sir Ben Onyeka, Dr Mrs Ngozi Utazi of Laity Council, Staff of University of Nigeria Nsukka, (UNN) where the wife is working and printers’association representatives.
Akaneme trained as a journalist at Institute of Magement and Technology (IMT), went into private sector as a printer and publisher.
He was a member of Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mine and Agriculture (ONICCIMA) where he rose to become the president.
Many have expressed disgust about the Anambra State revenue agents who went to Akaneme’s residence and broke his spinal chord while to take him away forcefully.
The people who carried out this dastardly act are still working free as the Anambra State Government and the State Police Command have failed to arrest and arraign them
Although the Anambra State was said have paid some money for Akaneme’s treatment in a hospital in Enugu but many believe the effort was not far-reaching as they ought to have flown him abroad to avoid what has happened now.
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