He killed himself to avoid paying $1,900, not $15k – Family of ex-wife to US -based Nigerian who took his life, defend daughter

Francis Van-Lare, the father of Suzzette Chibuogu, the ex-wife of 36-year-old US-based Nigerian cardiologist, Ikenna Erinne, who committed suicide after losing a child support case has denied the reports circulating social media about his death.

TheNewsGuru earlier reports that Erinne took his own life on Sunday, January 26, 2025 after losing custody of their children, during a prolonged divorce battle with his estranged wife, Suzzette.

Advertisement

According to reports, the Anambra-born shot himself after a US court ruled in favour of his ex-wife and ordered him to pay a monthly child support of $15,000.

However, speaking, Francis Van-Lare who earlier countered reports of his late son-in law sucidial act,  noting that the deceased held his daughter and her children at gunpoint, defended his daughter again, disclosing that the late doctor was asked to pay $1,900 per month as child support, not the $15,000 being peddled online.

Advertisement

He went on to share bank statements showing how much the deceased paid per month.

Advertisement

He further alleged that the deceased sometimes only made part payment and he called him a “dead beat dad”.