Human Interest

Family Mandates Woman to Drink Late Husband’s Bathwater to Prove Innocence

Widowhood practice

A 34-year-old widow, Mrs Chioma Asomugha from Ubahuekem in Ihiala area of Anambra, has raised alarm that her in-laws were forcing her to drink water used in bathing her late husband’s corpse.

Chioma, the widow, confirmed the report in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Awka.
She alleged that the brothers of her late husband, Charles, said she must drink the water to prove that she was not responsible for her husband’s death, but that she would not do that.
Chioma said that she and her late husband lived peacefully in Ojo area of Lagos before his death.
“I have four children with my late husband and we lived at Ajangbadi, Ojo area of Lagos before his demise.
“The burial is fixed for Monday June 14, but since we came home for the burial, the relatives of my husband forced me out of my matrimonial home.
“They insisted that before I will be allowed to come in that I will drink the water used in bathing my late husband’s corpse,” she claimed.
Chioma said she took the matter to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Awka as well as her Oraifite people with a view to resolving the matter.
Mrs Laura Ugwuanyi, Coordinator of NHRC in Anambra, confirmed the report, describing it as obnoxious.
She said efforts made to handle the matter did not yield positive results as the family members were not cooperating.
Chief Gerald Nnabugwu, a community leader in the area, told NAN that the leadership of the community was looking into the matter.
Mr C-Don Adinuba, state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment also promised to intervene in the matter.
When contacted, Mr Okey Chukwu, President General of Ubahuekem community said he was in a meeting and promised to call back, but as at the time of this report his phone was switched off.

By Ifeizu Joe

Ifeizu is a seasoned journalist and Managing Editor of TheRazor. He has wide knowledge of Anambra State and has reported the state objectively for over a decade.

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5 Comments

  1. Good evening please edit this post and remove the image of Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, this is disturbing to us knowing that she has nothing to do with the published story.

  2. Good evening, please edit this post and remove the image of Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, this is disturbing to us knowing that she has nothing to do with the published story.

  3. Good morning, please this is the second email I am sending to you in regards to the picture published alongside this post, “Family Mandate Woman to Drink Late Husband’s Bathwater to Prove her Innocence” please note that the picture attached is that of The Honorable Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Anambra State, Lady Ndidi Mezue.

    It is worrisome what her picture is doing to a post unconnected to her. I once again appeal to you to edit the post and remove her picture.
    Cheers

    Vincent O Ezechukwu
    Media and Publicity
    Office of the Honorable Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs
    Anambra State.

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