Nigerian-American businessman Francis Van-Lare has defended the substantial child support payments that he claims led his late son-in-law, Dr. Ikenna Erinne, to take his own life.
It was reported that Dr. Erinne, a Nigerian-American medical doctor based in the U.S., died by suicide on Sunday, January 26, 2025, after a lengthy child custody battle with his ex-wife, Suzzette Chibuogu. A U.S. court had ruled in favor of Chibuogu, ordering Dr. Erinne to pay $15,000 in monthly child support.
Clayton Udo, a Nigerian-American who claims to be an expert in psychological and mental abuse, stated that the court’s decision had a devastating financial impact on Dr. Erinne.
Earlier, Van-Lare alleged that Dr. Erinne had held his daughter and grandchildren hostage at gunpoint for three hours, only turning the gun on himself when police arrived.
In a new statement, Van-Lare defended the large child support payments, explaining that one of the children has special needs and requires care from various medical facilities, as well as attending a special needs school, all of which incur significant costs. He also clarified that the court had taken both parents’ incomes into account when making its decision.
Van-Lare further dismissed rumors about Dr. Erinne’s professional situation, stating: “To set the record straight, Dr. Ikenna Erinne’s license was never revoked. He holds active licenses in Illinois, New York, Virginia, and Maryland, so one state cannot revoke all licenses at once, and none were revoked.”
He added: “The child support was set at this amount because he has a physically challenged son who requires special care. He is not a victim but failed his son and daughter, now without their father. I just thank God he did not shoot my daughter and grandchildren in his madness.”
Van-Lare questioned the logic of Dr. Erinne’s actions, saying, “Which sane person takes his own life over money he is supposed to use to support his children? He was asked to pay child support, not alimony or spousal support, as my daughter is self-sufficient.”
“May his soul rest in peace regardless. My family will raise the children without him, regardless.”
