Julia, the wife of veteran actor Victor Olaotan, has appealed to members of the public to come to her husband’s aid.
In an interview with Punch where she made the appeal, Julia said the thespian has been receiving treatment without payment since 2019.
Julia, who thanked billionaire Femi Otedola and other well-meaning Nigerians for their supports so far, revealed that there are outstanding bills that needed to be cleared for the hospital to continue treating her husband.
She said, “I need all the help I can get. I have been silent but now, I am drowning. Apart from Mr Otedola and a few other people who have supported me, I still need help.
“His monthly expenses are $7,500, excluding the caregiver’s salary and other things like feeding and toiletries. The money for his stem cell procedure is about $150,000. He has done the first procedure and he needs to undergo the second one. I want to bring my husband back home. The last time I paid hospital bills was in March 2019. He has been receiving treatment without payment but the agency that helped with his medical travelling, Radmed, has been doing so much for us.
“They have been very humane because most of the hospital bills have been paid by them. However, my fear is that if another Nigerian needs the agency’s services, they might be reluctant because of their experience with us. I am just hoping that somebody out there would have compassion. But, I don’t want to appear like an ingrate because Nigerians have given support and everyone has their cross to carry.”
Julia further stated that the actor’s health is improving when it comes to recognising people. She then said that the hospital has threatened to dump the actor with the Nigerian embassy in Turkey if the outstanding debts are not paid.
She said “He is improving, especially when it comes to recognising people. Also, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, I have not been able to visit him. I owe the hospital so much money that my travelling to see him without paying outstanding bills would not be good. Because of the debt, the hospital has cut down on some of his treatments such as physiotherapy, although they still give him basic treatments.
“They managed him very well and he has even received the COVID-19 vaccine. They have called me several times about my debt and even threatened to dump him at the Nigerian Embassy and report me there too. They feel I have absconded because they have not seen me. We have not been able to start the second treatment after the one that Otedola graciously paid for. I have not been able to raise the $70,000 that is needed.”
Also known as Big Daddy, the former Tinsel star has been receiving treatment in a Turkish hospital after suffering from a traumatic brain injury in a ghastly car accident that occurred in October 2016.
Written by Olusola Oluwatobi