Children of former NBA President Cry out: “Allow us mourn our mother in peace”

Following the death of their mother, children of former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Joseph Bodunrin Daudu, SAN, have come out to debunk claims that their mother, Ranti Daudu died as a result of complications from domestic violence.

Responding to online media reports published on various blogs and news platforms, the oldest of the Daudu children, Paul Daudu, Esq. and Benedict Bamidele Daudu Esq, have published a statement on their social media platforms condemning these reports, while describing it as malicious and defamatory.

The statement read, “While we are in the process of grieving our beloved mother, our attention has been drawn to malicious posts on social media with fictitious claims that we grew up in an environment where there was ‘a vicious cycle of domestic violence’ by individuals claiming to be close to the family and even in some cases more ludicrously claiming to be  ‘relatives’.

“Individuals who we have never seen for one day in our home? Individuals who as we speak have not even contacted any of us to even find out how we are copying with the loss of our beloved mother? We use this medium to strongly condemn such malicious attempts to taint our family name by such individuals and cause division amongst us at these most trying times for us. It is unfortunate that at a time we are making preparations to give our darling mother the befitting burial she deserves, we are forced to set the record straight by this press release,” they said.

Further debunking these claims and referring to them as fallacious rumours, they added, “We reiterate to the contrary that we all grew up in a loving environment where we first hand witnessed the affection of both of our parents who within that period made tremendous effort to ensure all of us were raised to achieve our full academic potential and discipline. We are not unmindful that as with any marriage of 33 years, our parents’ marriage had its ups and down as disagreements are inevitable in any relationship talk less about a marriage of that length. However, this never ever at any point whatsoever disintegrated into any form of domestic violence as being painted in certain social media publications. “

The Daudu Children thus warned, “We may be in mourning at this time, but this in no uncertain terms should on any account be mistaken for weakness as we the children will not hesitate to take all necessary steps against all and sundry who publish defamatory remarks aimed solely at tarnishing our family name and indeed the image of our dearly departed mother.”

Begging to be left to mourn their mother, they asked the media and indeed the general public to respect our privacy at their most trying times

“We thank you for your cooperation,” the letter read.

Speaking passionately of their mum in the letter, they said, “There are no words invented on planet earth at this time that capture the devastating blow dealt to each and every one of us at this time. Our Mother meant the world to us and we to her as we shared an unimaginable bond. We are overcome and stricken with unimaginable grief, sorrow, pain and shock at her demise.

“To concerned relatives, friends and associates who have shown us overwhelming love, we are grateful for your support and prayers in this time of grief. Thank you.”

The Late Mrs Daudu who passed on, in the late hours of Thursday July 6, 2017 was a consummate legal practitioner and active member of the bar for several years who immensely contributed to our family practice. She was also a firm believer that there is ability in disability and by her good deeds fought for the rights of people living with disability. She Her passion was to cater in her own way for people living disability by creating ‘’All Children’s Charity International Foundation (ACCIF).  She was generally referred to as ‘The Voice of the Voiceless, a matriarch to the community and an advocate for those living with disability’.