Twenty two-year-old Chika Egbo,
who was bathed with acid by
her fiancé, David Sulaimon, in
Ikotun, Lagos, died at the Lagos
State University Teaching
Hospital, Ikeja, in the early hours
of Thursday.
Her death is coming six weeks
after the November 5 attack that
left her without the use of her
nose, eyes and mouth.
She was fed through a pipe,
connected to her neck.
At the hospital on Thursday,
Chika's father, Matthew, stood at
the front of the mortuary,
looking forlorn.
Matthew told PUNCH Metro, amid
sob, "Her body has been
transferred to the mortuary. She
died around 1am today
(Thursday).
"I looked at her about four days
ago and realised her eyes had
changed. The doctors later told
me the eyes were condemned.
She really suffered these past
three days. I prayed to God that if
it was His wish, God should take
her life so that her suffering
would cease. She suffered so
much.
"The police have come to get the
necessary details. The
investigating police officer said
he had to go to the court in
order to prepare documents that
will authorise an autopsy."
He added that he wished the
process would be hastened to
enable him to take the body of
his daughter for burial after the
autopsy.
Chika's death coincides with the
hearing of the case at an Ebute-
Meta Chief Magistrate's Court,
Lagos, on Thursday, where
Sulaimon is facing trial for the
assault.
At the court, Chika's family was
represented by three lawyers, Mr.
Nnabuike Edechime, Mr. Ben
Edechime and Mr. Vincent Onwo,
who are handling the case pro
bono (free of charge).
The lawyers had expressed their
concern about the bail granted
the accused person when he
was first arraigned.
They also informed the court that
the victim had died.
But the Chief Magistrate, Mr. O.
Olatunji, said the offence
(attempted murder), which
Sulaimon was charged with, was
bailable.
He however said he did not
approve his release since he
could not perfect the bail
conditions.
It was learnt that Sulaimon had
remain in custody since he was
first arraigned.
The prosecution applied to the
court for a substitution of the
attempted murder charge for
murder.
Olatunji adjourned the case till
January 9, 2013 for the hearing
on the charge substitution.
Chika, a student of the Enugu
State College of Education, fell in
love with Sulaimon and had a
child for him.
Their relationship had gone sour,
after which Sulaimon allegedly
invited her to Lagos from her
Enugu base under the pretext
that his mother wanted to see
her.
Sulaimon poured a substance
believed to be acid on Chika,
resulting in extensive burns on
the upper part of her body.
Chika underwent three surgeries
to remove the destroyed tissues
and reconstruct her face.
Matthew said Chika's mother had
not been informed about her
daughter's death. He said she
would probably be informed on
Friday (today).
who was bathed with acid by
her fiancé, David Sulaimon, in
Ikotun, Lagos, died at the Lagos
State University Teaching
Hospital, Ikeja, in the early hours
of Thursday.
Her death is coming six weeks
after the November 5 attack that
left her without the use of her
nose, eyes and mouth.
She was fed through a pipe,
connected to her neck.
At the hospital on Thursday,
Chika's father, Matthew, stood at
the front of the mortuary,
looking forlorn.
Matthew told PUNCH Metro, amid
sob, "Her body has been
transferred to the mortuary. She
died around 1am today
(Thursday).
"I looked at her about four days
ago and realised her eyes had
changed. The doctors later told
me the eyes were condemned.
She really suffered these past
three days. I prayed to God that if
it was His wish, God should take
her life so that her suffering
would cease. She suffered so
much.
"The police have come to get the
necessary details. The
investigating police officer said
he had to go to the court in
order to prepare documents that
will authorise an autopsy."
He added that he wished the
process would be hastened to
enable him to take the body of
his daughter for burial after the
autopsy.
Chika's death coincides with the
hearing of the case at an Ebute-
Meta Chief Magistrate's Court,
Lagos, on Thursday, where
Sulaimon is facing trial for the
assault.
At the court, Chika's family was
represented by three lawyers, Mr.
Nnabuike Edechime, Mr. Ben
Edechime and Mr. Vincent Onwo,
who are handling the case pro
bono (free of charge).
The lawyers had expressed their
concern about the bail granted
the accused person when he
was first arraigned.
They also informed the court that
the victim had died.
But the Chief Magistrate, Mr. O.
Olatunji, said the offence
(attempted murder), which
Sulaimon was charged with, was
bailable.
He however said he did not
approve his release since he
could not perfect the bail
conditions.
It was learnt that Sulaimon had
remain in custody since he was
first arraigned.
The prosecution applied to the
court for a substitution of the
attempted murder charge for
murder.
Olatunji adjourned the case till
January 9, 2013 for the hearing
on the charge substitution.
Chika, a student of the Enugu
State College of Education, fell in
love with Sulaimon and had a
child for him.
Their relationship had gone sour,
after which Sulaimon allegedly
invited her to Lagos from her
Enugu base under the pretext
that his mother wanted to see
her.
Sulaimon poured a substance
believed to be acid on Chika,
resulting in extensive burns on
the upper part of her body.
Chika underwent three surgeries
to remove the destroyed tissues
and reconstruct her face.
Matthew said Chika's mother had
not been informed about her
daughter's death. He said she
would probably be informed on
Friday (today).
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