In a press release today, the First Lady of Nigeria, Patience Jonathan, arrantly denied having a familial relationship with Christopher Awai, 31, who drowned in an Abuja hotel pool June 7. Awai's family, who claimed they were relatives of the First Lady, alleged that Awai was in fact the First Lady's nephew, son of the First Lady's younger sister. An inquest, publicized on SaharaReporters following the incident, sought answers to several pressing questions from the family regarding hotel negligience in Awai's case. Though the family is still fighting the legal battle, today's developments certainly add elements of intrique and confusion to the unfortunate case.
OFFICE OF THE FIRST LADY
STATE HOUSE, ABUJA
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE USE
The drowned Christopher Awai is not the First Lady’s nephew.
Our attention has been drawn to media reports linking one Christopher Awai who allegedly drowned in the swimming pool of Agura Hotel, Abuja to the First Lady, Dame (Dr) Patience Faka Jonathan.
This is to clearly state that the said Christopher Awai has no link whatsoever with the First Lady and as such, he is not a nephew of the First Lady.
We also wish to state without any iota of equivocation that Madam Esther Ebiere Gbonkumor who was mentioned in the news reports as the immediate “younger sister” of the First Lady is not in any way related to Dame (Dr) Patience Faka Jonathan.
Madam Gbonkumor was said to have petitioned the Inspector General of Police on behalf of the family “demanding a full [coroner] inquest into Awai’s death”.
It is an unfounded rumour which the First Lady knows nothing about and we will like the public and well meaning Nigerians to note, for the purpose of accurate record and common good.
Signed
Ayo Adewuyi
Media Assistant,
Office of the First Lady, FRN
July 30, 2014.
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