‘Ibinabo Lied’ – Late Dr. Suraj Giwa’s Sister Tells Side of the Story

Last week, Nollywood actress, Ibinabo Fiberesima, who was sentenced to 5 years in jail for killing Dr. Suraj Giwa in a car accident in 2006, opened up on her ordeal so far, revealing she used to visit the deceased’s mum until the family banned her from visiting any of them (read here).

The deceased’s younger sister, Biola Giwa-Adeyemi, has now told her side of the story in an interview with Punch, revealing how her brother died and that Ibinabo never visited their mother. Read excerpts below.

“I have always lived in the US. I was home when the accident happened. I have been living in the US for the past 33 years.

It wouldn’t have been like this. It was just the way she conducted herself after the accident.  When the accident happened, she fled the scene of the accident. She doesn’t have good advisers. The state government had to find out who the owner of the car she was driving was. That was when it was found out that the car belonged to Daniel Wilson.

My first time of hearing that name was the day of the accident. I had been in the US for over 20 years then and there was no way I would have known anything about her then.  I had another brother who was also in the car when that accident happened. You can imagine two people of the same mother and father in that car. They didn’t try to help them out, they all ran and left the scene of the accident.

The other car was right on top of his car. The other occupants were able to crawl out,” she said.

On some eyewitnesses saying Ibinabo didn’t flee but was rushed to the hospital, she said,

If some other people were in the car with her, what about those people? How come they didn’t try to help? Somebody should have stayed at that scene to say he or she was with Ibinabo. But nobody said anything. And how come the eyewitness is coming out now to talk? Where was he all these years? I read he said my brother was shouting, ‘I am a doctor, don’t hold me like that.’ But that is a lie. Have they forgotten that there were other occupants in the car?

On speculations she would never forgive Ibinabo and ensure she goes to jail, she said,

Why would I want to say that?  Is it not God that forgives? I don’t even know her, so why would I say I wasn’t going to forgive her? I didn’t know who she was. We weren’t even bothered about her. My mother had two kids in that car. My brother’s wife came from England and we were having a prayer session. That was when I saw Ibinabo. Would I say anything like that during a prayer session? We were all crying. One of them went to my husband and somehow, it was arranged that they meet me. My other brother who was involved in the accident works in the US and he had to go back. He asked me to stay for a little while so that one of us would be with our mother. I had to stay.

…she got out of the car and she came to me. The people she came with were just somewhere there, they didn’t even come close. I asked her what she wanted and she said she had come to plead so that the charges would be dropped. I told her it wasn’t between us and her but between the state government and her. But I told her I would rather give her an advice that would work for her. I told her if I were in her shoes, I would apologise publicly to the masses and also to the family. I advised her to throw herself to the mercy of the court. If she had done that, people would know she was remorseful and they would know she had indeed apologised. But she said she wasn’t going to do that. She said it would damage her career. Believe me, if not that so many eyes were on us, I would have kicked her for saying that. My husband was beside me when she said that. He even looked at me. I couldn’t believe it. What? Dr. Giwa was the head of physical rehabilitation medicine in LASUTH. He was the only one that had that credential then in Lagos State. Dr. Giwa was valuable to the state. He had helped a lot of people out…

She couldn’t apologise publicly back then but now, she wants Nigerians to pray for her. But I say it again; it is not me versus Ibinabo. It is not Giwa’s family versus Ibinabo. I am married and I am still with my husband with three wonderful children. My kids are all grown. What do I need from her? We are not in the same age group. I am older than her for God’s sake. I am in my 50s and I am the youngest of my mother’s kids. I am even good because if you talk to my other sisters, they would be ranting. She couldn’t apologise publicly because she put her career ahead of her.

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The magistrate court had found Ibinabo guilty. The DPP department took over the case; we weren’t the ones that took her to court. It has never been us. They found her guilty and sentenced her to prison for five years with an option of N100, 000 fine. So who wouldn’t look for N100, 000 to pay? Are you saying the life of the doctor was worth just N100, 000? The state went to high court and the high court found her guilty and said the N100, 000 should be returned to Ibinabo. The court said there shouldn’t have been an option of fine. Ibinabo went to appeal. It is all about her ego. The appeal court dragged on so long. Believe me, I never knew the case was still on.

On if they were offered money in compensation, she said,

What money? We don’t need her money! We are all good! Dr. Giwa wasn’t the only breadwinner. Every one of us is doing very well.

On Ibinabo’s claims she visited their mum until she was banned, she said,

But that is a lie! How could she say that? My mother is in Lagos. Ibinabo has never visited my mother! My mother does not even remember her name. She doesn’t know if Ibinabo is white or black. Why would we warn her from visiting my mother? I read that story in the papers and I had to ask myself what is wrong with her. If she truly said that, then she lied. She doesn’t have good advisers, I must tell you that again.

We have forgiven Ibinabo. We have moved on with our lives…Some people are saying we have not forgiven her. But that is not true. The Giwa family has moved on. It was an accident and accidents do happen…