A 36-year-old United States-based Nigerian cardiologist, Ikenna Erinne, has reportedly committed su!c!de after losing a child support case to his yet-to-be-identified ex-wife.
Erinne, who was a resident at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pennsylvania, allegedly took his own life on Tuesday, March 21, 2023.
According to reports, Erinne had been ordered by a court to pay $15,000 in child support to his ex-wife, which is believed to have been the reason behind his alleged suicide.
A friend of the decæsed, who spoke anonymously, told our newsmen that Erinne had been struggling financially and emotionally following the court’s decision.
“He was going through a lot. The financial burden of the child support, coupled with the emotional toll of the legal battle, seemed to have overwhelmed him,” the friend said.
The news of his dæth sent came as a surprise through the Nigerian community in the United States, with many expressing their condolences and calling for better mental health support for those going through legal and financial hardships.
Another friend, who also wished to remain anonymous, said, “Ikenna was a brilliant doctor and a good man. This trågedy highlights the need for more support for people in such situations. Mental health should be taken seriously.”
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.
He further explained that the late doctor lost his license as a cardiologist to the case, adding that he died after shooting himself.
He shot himself to death. He spent thousands of dollars in legal fees – wasted money. I am talking about a process that impoverishes you. You go to court and they take all your money.
“He lost his license as a cardiologist in this case plus they slammed on him 15,000 dollars a month plus restricted access to his children,” he added.
Efforts to reach the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center for comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
The Nigerian Embassy in the U.S. has not yet issued a statement regarding the incident, and attempts to get reactions from the embassy were also unsuccessful.
