Francis Van-Lare, the father of Suzzette Chibuogu, whose ex-husband, Ikenna Erinne, a United States (US)-based Nigerian doctor allegedly committed suicide, has debunked the claim surrounding his death.
Erinne, a 36-year-old cardiologist doctor from Anambra State, was said to have shot himself to death on 26 January, 2025.
Meanwhile, multiple claims have been unveiled on the circumstances that led to the death of the 36-year-old cardiologist.
Van-Lare, a popular businessman, shared on his Facebook page on Sunday that on that day of the tragic incident, late Dr. Erinne had gone to his daughter’s house and held her and her children hostage for three hours due to losing the case of child custody to her ex-wife.
He further noted that his daughter’s nanny, who escaped from the hands of the late deceased, reported the event to the police. Upon their arrival and due to the fear of facing three counts of kidnapping with a deadly weapon with 25-year jail terms each, he shot himself.
“While I sympathise with his family for his death, my daughter is not responsible for him taking his own life, and I thank God it did not degenerate to where he shoots my daughter, grandchildren, and himself,” he noted while analysing that everyone is a loser, including him (Van-Lare).
Background
It was revealed that the late 36-year-old cardiologist and his wife had a prolonged divorce and child custody right cases.
After a long chase to the custody of their children, Erinne lost and was ordered by the court to pay $15,000 monthly child support fees.
Clayton Udo, a Nigerian-American, claimed that the court’s verdict contributed to the 36-year-old’s death.
Udo noted, “The abuse of African men in the USA must come to an end. In a deeply troubling case, Dr. Ikenna Erinne, an American-trained cardiologist, allegedly took his own life after an American court ordered him to pay his ex-wife $15,000 monthly, following a prolonged and contentious divorce case. This tragic incident highlights the systemic issues within the legal system that disproportionately affect African men.”
Udo, who claimed to be an expert in psychological and mental abuse, revealed that the deceased had spent thousands of dollars in legal fees before the court’s verdict turned out in favour of his ex-wife.
“License not revoked“
While refuting the claim that his daughter’s ex-husband’s license was not revoked despite being active in Illinois, New York, Virginia, and Maryland.
For the record, Van-lare wrote, “He has active licenses in Illinois, New York, Virginia, and Maryland, so one state cannot revoke all licenses at once, though none was revoked.
Explaining the need for the child support fee, “The child support was set that much because he has a physically challenged son needing special care from different medical facilities plus attending a special needs school that costs money, and courts consider the income of both parents before making decisions.
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He described the late medical doctor as a failed father and acknowledged that his family will be the children, while giving thanks to God that his daughter and grandchildren were not shot.
“Which sane person takes his own life over money he is supposed to use to support his children? He was asked to pay child support, not alimony or spousal support, as my daughter is self-sufficient.
Another Facebook user, Amanda Chisom, wrote while confirming the death of the deceased doctors, “It is Francis cooking up a story about Ikenna holding his daughter and grandchildren hostage for me! You did not even respect the fact that a mother was there when her son offed himself because of frustration! Do we blame him? Yes, I do; he chickened out when he should have run.
“But you will not lie about this and make your daughter out to be the victim! She is an adult; let her speak for herself! Ikenna was in his own house, and he locked himself in, and his mother and brother were at the door! How did your daughter and their children appear in the scene! Your daughter told this guy that “I will wreck you.
