Consider Ibinabo's children, Freeze pleads

Freeze

It’s no longer news that celebrated actress, Ibinabo Fiberesima, has lost her appeal not to be imprisoned over the accident she had several years back which resulted in the death of a medical doctor, Suraj Giwa.

But her appeal court loss has been generating reactions, and the most touching of them is by her first child, who has written a letter that Nigerians should please pray for his mother, himself and his siblings at this critical point of their lives.

“People of Nigeria,” began the letter. “This is Sean, first and proud son of Ibinabo Fiberesima. I write to plead with all Nigerians to pray for my mother. She is going through the toughest of times right now, and so are we, her family. I’ve been reading heartbreaking comments on her matter that ‘she thinks she’s above the law,’ ‘she doesn’t feel sorry for the family of the deceased,’ ‘she was drunk and deserves this punishment.’

“Let me get a few things straight with you now. My mother is the most humble woman I know. I was not aware she was a celebrity until I was about 14 and that’s only because my uncle told me. She does not see herself or act as if she is above any other person. She is a proud Nigerian who loves her country and its people.

“Secondly, she has been carrying heartbreak around with her for the past 11 years after the accident. She understands the pain for the deceased’s family and is very hurt about what happened herself. She has tried her utter most to console with the Family, so don’t ever think she does not care.

“Thirdly, she was not drunk. The charges are reckless and dangerous driving. First of all, I refuse to believe my mother was driving recklessly or dangerous as I’ve been in a car with her countless times and nothing has happened. On this occasion it was unfortunate, she was unlucky, her car flipped over which happens to a number of cars and another car smashed into her. She was in a coma for days, she could have easily lost her life, but thankfully, by God’s strength only, she survived. She did not set out that day trying to kill someone or herself.

“Right now, my mother is broken, and needs the prayer and support of all Nigerians, so please put all your conspiracies about this matter aside. I know it’s between her and God now.

“Join us, myself, Craig her son who is 14, Malcolm and Brian her other sons and her beautiful daughter Zino who is just 8, and the rest of her family, to pray for my mother. Let God decide what is just and what is not.

“Whatever your religion, join us and pray for my mother as well as the family of the deceased. We can all get through this but not without God. Thank you for reading. May God bless you all.”

On-air personality, Freeze, has also reacted, saying, “Should Ibinabo go to jail for 5 years??? I ran a poll on the Road Show on @coolfmlagos and callers voted 6-1 in favor of her serving the sentence.

“Do I agree? Well, no. Let’s not deprive her children of their mother and not further traumatise them with the negativity associated with their mum being an ex-convict.

“However, a N100,000 fine? Seriously???? What can 100k buy in Nigeria today??? Not even an iPhone 6! Probably an iPhone 5s at the most! So are you saying a woman would be deprived of her husband’s love, care and intimacy in exchange for an iPhone 5s??? Or the children would be told ‘sorry guys, daddy is gone but here is an iPhone 5s for you guys to share.’

“I am of the opinion that she should be responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the children. This responsibility should be directly proportional to her income. Also, a portion of her income should go to the wife unless she (the wife) states otherwise. No amount of money can replace a loved one. However, taking financial responsibility could help bring closure to the bereaved family.

“I pray she is pardoned but she needs to show empathy and remorse, while being responsible for the family of the deceased.”

Also reacting, Emeka Ike, Ibinabo’s Nollywood colleague, has come out to say that people should not think because he has issues with her over the presidency of the Actors Guild of Nigeria that he’s happy at her appeal loss as, on the contrary, he doesn’t wish jail for her.