The Wigwe Story!What really happened? And what didn't happen? Did we get the true story?

The rumour mills were going into overdrive over the past week when a local newspaper published pictures and a story of the Nigerian High Commissioner's wife's tale of domestic violence and battery from her husband, Dr. Chijoke Wigwe. In addition, the story has gone viral in blogs, newspapers and international media. The main theme they're carrying is the story of the battered wife. In all the articles we have seen, none has investigated the story further.  

 
  From the article, the wife, Tess Iyi Wigwe accused Dr. Wigwe of battering her repeatedly over 'a dinner argument'. The diplomat is said to have hit her repeatedly, with cuts showing on her bloodied face.  

 
  What the journalists have seemingly failed to do is to investigate the other side of the story, which would have been the prudent thing to do, given the nature of diplomatic influence and damage this was going to have.      

  Sources revealed to us that Mrs. Wigwe has been long separated from her husband, and no longer resides with him permanently. she spends most of her time away from her husband's diplomatic's residence, preferring to live elsewhere. Their two children live with the husband.  

 
  However, the story that is emerging is one of battery and violence, with her as the alleged perpetrator.

 
  Our sources further revealed that she has gone so far as to batter domestic staff, drivers and diplomatic residence staff, which has been done repeatedly.In 1998, Mrs. Wigwe was expelled from Japan in a scandal that brought to light the fact that she had assaulted a diplomat from another country. This of course could not be condoned and she was sent packing.  

 
  Lately, she has been fighting her husband for property acquired AFTER their separation. She has been picking up cars from the diplomatic residence and sometimes hindering her husband's movement, forcing him to use taxis in his daily routine and while on social engagements.  

 
  What is coming to light is that on finding that her husband purchased property in Nairobi, she contacted a friend of hers, who is a senior staffer at an international organization, and the two allegedly conspired to 'teach him a lesson'.  

 
  Our sources informed us that Mrs. Wigwe showed up at the diplomatic residence in the evening, demanding to know why Dr. Wigwe was making purchases such as the residential property without consulting her. She then proceeded to beat and attempted to choke her husband. This is where it emerged that she is the one who has been the harbringer of domestic violence in the marriage. Dr. Wigwe, in his defence is said to have pushed her, and she fell and hit herself on the stairs and banister, injuring her face.  

 
  Mrs. Wigwe, on seeing what happened, is alleged to have smeared the blood all over her face, and then proceeded to take pictures of herself for evidence. She then demanded USD 200,000   and the title deed to the house so as not to release the pictures. Her children are said to have aided to get her out of the house, where she went on to damage the property, breaking windows, ornaments and damaging doors before she left in the company of the same friend who had hatched this plan with her. All this is said to be in evidence at the NHC residence.  

 
 
  The questions that come to mind are as follows:  

 
  Why did Tess Wigwe wait 10 days before reporting the incident to the police? Why did she first run to the press, where she is known to have intimate friends, who published her story?

 
  Why did she pause to take pictures of herself, instead of going to secure medical attention, and have the doctors document her injuries?

 
  Has Dr. Wigwe said anything to this matter? Reports say that he has always agreed to being in a bad marriage, he has not hidden that fact

 
  Have the police bothered to check out the validity of the story

 
  Does Mrs. Wigwe have medical records detailing and documenting her injuries, from a neutral source?  

 
  While FIDA has come out guns blazing to demand that Dr. Wigwe be arrested and expelled from the country, have they heard the story from the other person in this whole mix? Have they interviewed the children, who more often than not are silent witnesses to what goes on in a marriage?  

 
  The media sometimes is biased, taking on the woman's side, even when presented with evidence to the contrary. It is remembered that in the story of Joyce Akinyi and Anthony Chinedy, Akinyi visibly assaulted her husband in the full glare of cameras. No action was ever taken against her in clearly what was a case of domestic violence. Mrs. Wigwe is known for her hot temper, even in social circles. In 2003, she assaulted a local journalist and another lady for talking to her husband while at an event at the Holiday Inn, Nairobi .  

 
  Where do we draw the line?  
 
  Do we condemn a man just for the fact that the woman broke the story first? Or do we investigate and hear all sides of the story?

 
 
  The Author, Naomi Mutua, Editor www.vibeweekly.com, can be reached @