Nollywood actress, Ibinabo
Fiberesima has finally opened up on the death of a medical doctor, Suraj Giwa
after 12 years.
Ibinabo had killed the medical
doctor in a fatal accident that sent her into coma for days.
She was charged for manslaughter
and sent to Kirikiri female prison.
Ibinabo in a lengthy post on
Instagram, told her story to US-based journalist, Azuka Jebose.
She wrote on Instagram:
“I need to tell my story. I
stayed silent for so long and watched as my life, character and person were
being ruined in published reports, including social media. This is my story,
told for the first time on social media platform.
“My heart has never stopped
aching. It will not. An accident took the life of someone. I am forever in
mourning because of this. Two families’ lives have been changed forever with
this unfortunate fatal accident. It was an accident. Dr. Suraj Giwa didn’t have
to die. I wished I could bring him back. I am sorry for the pains caused.
“I have also been maligned and
disparaged in the media: I am a monster. I am a killer and a murderer, I am a
drunk… No. Azuka. I am none of these.
I am just another human being
that was in a deadly accident and the accident caused the death of Dr. Suraj
Giwa.
“It’s been 12 years of heartache,
pain and depression for me. My eyes are rivers of tears.
Some days I feel like killing
myself. Life has no meaning to me.
“I think about Dr. Giwa every
day. I pray for his soul and I pray and seek forgiveness from his family for
the pain and agony. I am very sorry.
“It didn’t have to happen. I
wished I knew it would happen that unfortunate day, I would not have travelled
that road. I was not drunk that day.
Azuka, I was driving along Lekki
road, returning home after picking up a friend’s daughter from a church
Fellowship. Suddenly, a red car overtook the SUV in front of me.
“The SUV was travelling slowly,
so I shifted to its front, too. The red vehicle was being driven by a young man
and had his friends with him…I drove past the red car. I think that might have
angered the young chap because he swiftly sped from behind, drove past me and
made a sudden stop in my front.
“I tried to avoid hitting those
boys in the red car. I swerved and lost control in that moment, the impact
dived my vehicle into inbound lane.. Dr. Giwa was inbound, thus he drove into
my car and both cars collided. I collapsed and passed out.. Three days later, I
WOKE UP IN A HOSPITAL bed to learn what had happened.
“I was weak, sore and in pains. I
could not move my legs. I had been sedated for three days. Doctors said they
had to sedate me to numb my pain. Meanwhile, the police had been informed that
I was in that hospital. The Lagos State Police came to the hospital to take my
statement of what happened. After I gave them my statement, I was arrested at
the hospital and charged to court.
“At my court appearance for
hearing, the judge noticed how sick, weak, incoherent an disoriented I was: he
also saw my injuries. He ordered that I should be sent back to the hospital for
further treatment until I was well enough to stand trial. I could not walk
then.
“Later at the hospital, I woke up
from coma and to reality. I was afraid and shocked. I could not believe I was
involved in an accident that had taken a life. I was like: Wow!..Someone died
in that accident. Oh my God!
“I didn’t know the family. While
I was in the hospital my family contacted the family of Late dr. Giwa who died
in the accident. My family was there for the funeral and did everything during
the mourning season. I was afraid. But I met them in court and tried to
approach them.
“I understood the anger and pain
I had caused them, so I accepted their anger toward me….his sister was really
angry at me… I wanted to talk to her… it was hard for me to get close to her… I
understood all these: the pain and distress they felt as a result of the
accident. I felt their pain. I wanted to tell them how sorry and remorseful I
was… It was an accident. I did not intend to wake up that morning, went out and
had a fatal collision.
“Weeks later, I was arraigned. I
attended all my court appearances. During the process I visited the family and
attempted several times to make peace. I never ignored them. I am always sorry.
I know the pain is tough, so I understood their anger but I kept begging. I am
sorry. I did not intend to wake up that morning, went out and had a fatal
collision.
I had gone to so many good people
and friends to assist me in pleading for forgiveness from the family. One of
such friends is late Iyalode of Lagos.
“She assisted me in begging the
Giwa family: when I became well and able to walk, she took me to The former
Imam of Lagos and the Present Oba of Lagos: these traditional and religious
leaders begged on my behalf, pleading with the family for forgiveness and
showed how sorry and remorseful I was that the accident happened. I never ran
away from the scene of the accident. I was unconscious.
“How could an unconscious
accident victim remove plate license and registration papers from the vehicle
as reported in the media? Why would I do a thing like that? How could I have
done a thing like that?
“I became a monster in the eyes
of everyone. So I thought suicide was the best option to end all these and find
peace for my family and Dr. Giwa’s family. I lost myself. I was no longer
Ibinabo. I didn’t know who I was. I became a stranger to myself and my family,
afraid of life and living, scarred by and scared of human beings.
“I withdrew and became clinically
depressed.
I could not take care of my
children. I was dying. I was dying. Life had no meaning to me. I became a
lonely zombie: a mother that could not care for her children, distressed,
disturbed and severely depressed.
I was sent to Kirikiri female
Prison. I wanted to die there. I accepted to end it.
“But one preacher came to the
prison and preached to us. It was like he was talking to me. During his sermon,
I fainted… I was revived by prisoners that attended the service. When I woke
up, I was soaked in water and the prisoners gathered around me… I asked what
happened and they told me I had Passed out during the service.
“That opened my eyes. I asked
myself then: Ibinabo, do you really want to die?. I said no. I must turn my
life to purpose driven, to rescue the weak and helped those that society had
turned against.. I held onto God. I told Him it was up to Him. I didn’t want to
see any lawyer again, I had no money. My family bailed me out after three
months and three days…. I came out to pursue the appeal.
“I was living my simple life…I
engaged in works with youths in my village. I enjoy spending time in my town.
They know me there. They love me there… I was on my way to a funeral when my
lawyer called me.. Earlier the previous day, I called to inform him I would be
out of town and hoped the appeal date would not be scheduled while I was out of
town.
“He said no. I told him I didn’t
want the court to think I jumped bail… He called me on my way to the funeral,
the next day and said the court date was actually that morning. I had to hurry
back to court.
I lost the appeal. I was shocked.
My lawyer did not understand what
was going on. That day, I was taken back to Kirikiri maximum security prison…
that was 2016.
“While at Kirikiri, I discovered
I had a lump in my breast. I had to do surgery… when I was released, I went to
the village so that I would not breakdown and collapse into depression again…
Yes I want to serve my people.. I
want to be positive and impact people’s lives. And yes, Azuka, I remember that
this sad situation is still here…
I do not know who else to talk
to.
“I do not know what else to do. I
need help…
The family sued me for
N200Million in a civil case…
Where will I get that money
from?. So we have been negotiating to see where we can get to, so I can begin
making payment by installment.
“We have agreed to settle out of
court… we are not there yet. It’s a process… Though I have appealed this case
to the Supreme Court, what is important to me now is making peace with the
family: that is more important because it will heal me… his family and I would
have peace.
“Azuka I am not a bad person. I
do not know what else to do. People think I am a murderer. I am not. I am not.
Azuka, free me….Free me… It was an unfortunate accident. I didn’t do it
intentionally. That’s all I have been begging.
I have begged…I do not know what
to do…I am truly sorry it happened.
“I am not running for any
political office. My people wanted me. A group of youths from my place asked me
to run for office, I said no. They went and printed poster and placed it on
social media. So I endorsed it.
“Eventually, I must live. I have
to do things to my fulfillment, to what God wants me to do; to be able to help
youths help people generally… Life in Okrika is not easy… I need to help the
youths believe in themselves… they are aching.. In my region, simple things of
life are a struggle to get.
“I need to change their mindset
that there is alternative way to Life… I have become a seeker of peace for my
people… Life hasn’t been a bed of roses… But I must deal with this issue. I
seek forgiveness from the family and peace of mind. I need to find closure and
peace.… I am not a killer… I care too much… I am a caring person. I put myself
in the shoes of Giwa’s family and I can understand their pains. I am very sorry
for the loss of life of Dr. Giwa. I am. I am not arrogant.
“I never, ever said to his family
that I would not offer public apology.
“I was offered to do a public
service announcement across country with regards to Driving While Impaired. I
said if I did that, it then meant I accepted I was drunk when I drove my car. I
wasn’t drunk. I would do anything but that. I wasn’t drunk… they assumed
because I owned a night club in the past, so I must be an alcoholic.
This is exactly the truth. It’s
not fair to admit that I was drunk.
“The police did not arrest me for
drunk driving.. The court never charged me with drunk driving.. There were reckless
and dangerous driving charges.
Those were what I was charged by
the court…. I was not charged with manslaughter.
Not murder.
“My pains through the years
include: Bouts of depression Attempted suicide I Had surgeries in my breast to
remove lumps. I cannot do a lot. This unfortunate experience has affected my
job prospects. I am unemployable I have stopped acting for a while. I just do
charity works.. I am not flamboyant.. Dear Nigeria, I am sorry. I will forever
regret what happened.
“Giwa was a father, husband and
son. He was the sole and soul provider of his family. I feel terrible he died
during an accident which I was involved. I feel really bad. I am sorry. I need
prayers. Please pray for me and the soul of Giwa and his family.
I know I have found God through
this experience. But I still need help.
“I am receiving therapy for my
depression and suicidal thoughts… I am able to share these with you.. I am
healing… one moment at a time..I am not a killer. I am not a murderer. I am not
an alcoholic. I did not drive while intoxicated. I was involved in an accident
that resulted in death and for that I am very sorry. I have had periods of
feeling miserable in the last 12years as a result of this accident. I need to
find peace. I seek forgiveness. I am sorry. Thank you.”
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Dear Ibinabo,
ReplyDeleteI have never met you. I so much the name Ibinabo. I guess right from childhood through Rex Lawson record. I used to listen to one of his music it sounded like your name, Ibinabo. Apart from this I now know you are from Okrika. This makes me to love you the more because I have a good friend of mine whom I have been longing to see for ages. His name is Menagibi Mangibo. He is from Okrika. We worked together at ports authority. There was also Tonye. I read this your piece and I can feel you. Don't worry, don't die and don't be depressed. Believe in God. He sees all things and knows all things. Commit every thing into his hands and relax. Since you have begged Dr Giwa's family, relax and commit every thing to God's hand. Even if you have 200m will that bring Dr Giwa back to life? If you don't have the money no one can kill you because of that. Try and settle out of court with his family. Do all you can to help the family within your means and if you don't have let them know. If they refuse to know, leave it in God's hand. There are times things pass our power. Perish the thought of suicidal Ibinabo. You will be guilty in this world and the world to come. Dr Giwa died because God time for him to leave this world came. No man in this world can add a second to his sojourn here on earth. His time was up so he died if not he wouldn't have died. May his soul rest in peace.