The father of Izuchukwu David Onwualu, the deceased 11-year-old JSS 1 student of St. Valerian Catholic School, Onitsha, Anambra State, Mr Christopher Onwualu, has said he did not collect N200,000 from the school to hurriedly bury his son.
Master Izuchukwu David Onwualu reportedly died following the floggings he allegedly received from a female basic science teacher of the school for failing to write his assignment.
Speaking with some journalists at his Onitsha residence, over the weekend, Christopher and his wife, said it was not true that the purpose of the money was for them to hurriedly bury their son.
Christopher, who spoke in Igbo language, said the money was described as “ego akwan,” meaning condolence money, which is money people give to a bereaved family when they visit, a norm in Igbo land.
He explained that he was the one that invited the school parish priest to come and conduct the last prayers during the burial of his late son as there was no point keeping him in the morgue.
He described his son as an easy-going, sociable and likable person, who wanted to become a doctor and was working towards the aspiration of his dream.
He expressed displeasure at the school, saying that the school management, apart from its visit on the day of his son’s burial, had not deemed it fit to visit the family again.
He said, “Nothing was wrong with my son. I took him to school on a motorcycle on that Tuesday morning, only to see him writhing in pain in the evening and he passed on after several efforts to resuscitate him. We have resigned to fate as I don’t want the matter to continue to linger.
“I was the one that called the parish priest of the school to come and offer last prayers so that I will bury him as there was no need keeping his corpse in the mortuary. He was buried in our hometown in Onitsha.
“After burying my son, someone called me and was saying that they learnt that I collected N200,000 from the school to quickly bury my son. It is not true. How can I? The school representatives came with the envelope on the day of the burial and after the ceremony ended, they presented an envelope to us. When I asked what it was, they said it was ‘condolence money,’ which is a norm in Igboland. I handed over the envelope to my wife and up until now, we have yet to even open it.
“So, what is N200,000 that I will collect for the life of my son. I have four children in the school and I know how much I pay. Although, for now, I have withdrawn my other children from the school. I don’t want this matter to continue to linger anymore. I have resigned to fate. All these false information they are putting out there, I don’t want it anymore. The money was not meant for me to hurriedly bury my son.
“I missed my son as he was a very helpful and likable fellow, but what can I do? I cannot bring him back.”
When contacted, the authorities at the St. Valerian Catholic School told our correspondent that the school was still in mourning mood over the death of Izuchukwu, and at the appropriate time they would respond.
Credit: Punch