The family of the late Nick Imudia, a former chief executive of Konga,an e-commerce company, has said that his passage was hastily reported by the media, saying it done when doctors were still trying to resuscitate him.
It added that the family had yet to learn about the death when it was reported.
This is as it noted that Imudia did not die by suicide as reported, saying investigation was still ongoing.
The deceased’s family spoke in a statement as reported by ‘Leadership’ newspaper.
It read: “The family of Nick Imudia is unhappy with the unprofessional manner the media has wrongly characterised the reporting of Nick Imudia’s death as suicide. This is also supported by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police’s office that has vowed to investigate the sudden death of Nick. Neither did Nick call his brother in America with instructions on how to distribute his wealth, nor placed a call to his daughter with any instructions.
“How come the news was reported so hastily (less than 3 hours from his death) before his family members even knew about it – and the medical team was still trying to resuscitate him at the hospital! The Imudia family wonders!
“Nick never showed any sign of stress and he was not diagnosed as depressed at any point. The thought of suicide in the manner portrayed and hastily reported by the news media is suspect.”
According to the family, Imudia was in Lagos for a brief visit after traveling to the Netherlands, and was scheduled to return to Nairobi the very next day when his sudden death occurred.
“Nick was full of life and people that worked closely with him or met him in the last hours prior to the incident surrounding his death were shocked with the media attributing his death to ‘suicide’.
“At his prime age and the level of his achievements, people who knew Nick well are all shocked and do not accept the characterisation of his death as suicide. Members of Nick’s family do request the media and the general public to allow them to grief their loved one without any unfounded rumour of the circumstances surrounding his death,” the statement added.
PUNCH Online reports on Thursday that Imudia, who was until his death, the CEO of D.light International, died by suicide at his residence in the Lekki area of Lagos State.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to PUNCH Online on Thursday, after media reports went viral.
Hundeyin said, “Yes, it is true. He allegedly committed the act on June 25. An investigation has commenced at the homicide section, SCID, Yaba.”
