The family of the late former Nigerian Vice President, Alex Ekwueme will soon get a refund of the $200,000 they incurred in the treatment of the late elder statesman in London. 

According to a top government official, President Muhammadu Buhari gave the assurance on Thursday when the Ekwueme family, led by the traditional ruler of Oko Kingdom, Igwe Laz Ekwueme paid him a thank-you visit for the Federal Government’s role in the successful burial of the late vice president.

Others in the delegation were the late Ekwueme’s wife, Mrs. Beatrice Alex Ekwueme, his daughter, Mrs. Chinwe Igwilo and Pastor Goodheart Obi Ekwueme among others.

The Second Republic vice president died in a London hospital, on November 19, 2017, at 85. He was buried in his hometown, Oko, Anambra State, in February, 2018.

The family had, in May, disclosd that the Federal Government was yet to fulfill its pledge of a refund of hospital expenses incurred in treating the late Ekwueme.

Although reports indicated that the  government had paid the money directly to the London hospital, it was learnt that the money was returned  because the ex-VP’s family had already settled the bill before help came from Abuja.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, Prof. Ekwueme, who is also a veteran actor and professor of music said the meeting was a thank-you visit which was also meant to get the Federal Government to fulfill the promises it made to the family.

“We have come, as family, his spouse, children, members of the family and cabinet of Oko community and other chiefs and friends, to say ‘thank you’ to Mr. President for the work he did through the committee he set up, under the chairmanship of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, and the presence of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at the burial itself.

“And, the immortalization they gave in renaming the Federal University Ndufu Alike, in Ebonyi State as Alex Ekwueme Federal University of Technology and all the other things they did towards making his burial a special one.

“And also in recognizing the little efforts my brother made in building this country.  We just came to say thank you to Mr. President and his cabinet,” Ekwueme said.

On what the president’s response was, the monarch continued: “He thanked us for coming to thank him for appreciating what he did and we are grateful that he responded favourably and we look forward to some greater efforts.

“For instance, the Federal Government has promised to build a mausoleum; we pray that they quicken the pace of that.”