He said that it was not the first time he saw her with an alcoholic drink.
“I noticed it after we started dating. I corrected her many times but she always flared up. She was drinking Bull, Yahoo, and Igboya, among other alcoholic drinks. Though I also take it, I don’t like such a thing for a woman. And I don’t take it while at work. I don’t take any drugs, only cigarettes. She was also always taking Tramadol, telling me that her leg was paining her.
“I didn’t pour petrol on her. It was the devil that turned things this way. Since she was hospitalized, despite my own condition as a result of much beating, I have not felt well. I know that my life has been destroyed.
“I appeal that I should be allowed to see her. I’m ready to marry her. Though I’m a Muslim, I want her to be going to church so that she can be transformed positively. She was already changing at a time when she started attending church,” he stated.
Nigerian Tribune learnt that the suspect is a divorcee whose ex-wife remarried a long time ago. One of his three children, all male, is already a father.
Esther’s uncle, Mr Modaki Kofur, a retired Warrant Officer of the Nigerian Army, said that Esther had once lived with him. “My sister is in Taraba State and Esther had been with me.
“The deformity she has is a result of her falling during obstacles training when she was to be recruited into the Nigerian Navy about 12 years ago. She broke her hip bone.
“She left my house over two years ago, and I thought she was in Enugu State, where she said she was going to work. She came to where my family is in February 2024. She said that her life was not going smoothly and had been told to go back to me for prayers. I told her that I always wish her well.
“To my surprise, I heard of what happened to her on December 31. I was told that she was rushed to the National Hospital. I went on January 1 and saw her in a terrible state. The problem we have now is money to take care of her. We have spent a lot since the incident occurred, and we were told by the hospital that she may need to be there for two months. That’s why we have been telling the man who caused the problem to look for more money, but he has not been able to do anything.”
In his comment, CP Disu stressed the need for controlled anger, advising members of the public to always exercise patience and seek peace whenever there is disagreement, to avoid unexpected negative results.
He added that the suspect would be arraigned in court after the conclusion of the investigation.
(Linda ikeji)