Philemon Ihediwa who wrote,
starred, directed and produced his first movie, CONGO BOY IN THE CITY in the United States 10 years ago is now dead.
starred, directed and produced his first movie, CONGO BOY IN THE CITY in the United States 10 years ago is now dead.
The police found his bloated body in his apartment last Saturday evening. He fell on the
floor in his bathroom, hitting his head against the bathtub in his apartment in a small town of Smithfield, North Carolina.
According to punch, on Monday evening, Ihed, during a telephone
conversation with his female friend, Louise Gorsham, who lived “across
town”, hinted that he was not feeling well and would retire to bed
early. Ms. Gorsham pleaded with him to call her when he woke up at
sunrise. He agreed and they both wished each other goodnight.
conversation with his female friend, Louise Gorsham, who lived “across
town”, hinted that he was not feeling well and would retire to bed
early. Ms. Gorsham pleaded with him to call her when he woke up at
sunrise. He agreed and they both wished each other goodnight.
“The next day, I called several times
throughout the day but he did not respond to my call. I sent text
messages. No response. I waited till Wednesday to repeat calls and text
messages. I did not hear from him. I was also at work. By Saturday
afternoon, after I closed from work, I pleaded with a coworker to drive
me to Ihed’s apartment in Smithfield, a thirty minutes ride from
Raleigh. I was mad at him. I thought he was ignoring my calls on
purpose, might be he had found another lady. But when I got to his
apartment, I noticed his car was in his parking space. I began to smell
stench coming from his door. I knew something wasn’t right.
throughout the day but he did not respond to my call. I sent text
messages. No response. I waited till Wednesday to repeat calls and text
messages. I did not hear from him. I was also at work. By Saturday
afternoon, after I closed from work, I pleaded with a coworker to drive
me to Ihed’s apartment in Smithfield, a thirty minutes ride from
Raleigh. I was mad at him. I thought he was ignoring my calls on
purpose, might be he had found another lady. But when I got to his
apartment, I noticed his car was in his parking space. I began to smell
stench coming from his door. I knew something wasn’t right.
“Immediately, I called the Smithfield
Police department and requested a welfare check on my friend. The police
arrived few minutes later, broke into his apartment and found him dead
on the floor, bloated and oozing. My friend died lonely from a broken
heart and years of pains from being denied relationships with his
children. He loved those kids. Ihed told me many times that his wife
had, through the years, barred his children from visiting him. She set
them up against their dad while she was busy collecting heavy child
support. That man was a very great man. All he wanted was to be a good
father to his children. But his ex wife was in the way. Now he is gone.”
Police department and requested a welfare check on my friend. The police
arrived few minutes later, broke into his apartment and found him dead
on the floor, bloated and oozing. My friend died lonely from a broken
heart and years of pains from being denied relationships with his
children. He loved those kids. Ihed told me many times that his wife
had, through the years, barred his children from visiting him. She set
them up against their dad while she was busy collecting heavy child
support. That man was a very great man. All he wanted was to be a good
father to his children. But his ex wife was in the way. Now he is gone.”
Smithfield medical examiner’s office
determined that the causes of death were seizure and possible heart
attack. It was recorded that “his body was bloated and near
decomposition when he was found in his bathroom. The heat in the
apartment accelerated decomposition process.” The medical Examiner also
concluded that Ihed might have died five days earlier.
determined that the causes of death were seizure and possible heart
attack. It was recorded that “his body was bloated and near
decomposition when he was found in his bathroom. The heat in the
apartment accelerated decomposition process.” The medical Examiner also
concluded that Ihed might have died five days earlier.
Unconfirmed sources say Smithfield
police tried several times to reach his ex-wife but she did not return
calls placed to her cell phone. His body was deposited in the morgue
pending notification of his next of kin, his children, especially the
first son.
police tried several times to reach his ex-wife but she did not return
calls placed to her cell phone. His body was deposited in the morgue
pending notification of his next of kin, his children, especially the
first son.
The Nigerian community in RTP in
association with Ngwa Association, on Monday attempted to move his
remains to a funeral home to prepare him for burial. But the funeral
home indicated that it would only honour the wishes of the family and
not community members; to protect itself from any legal fallout. The
ex-wife and their first son refused to participate in the burial of
their father. On Wednesday afternoon, after several pleas from members
of the community to the ex-wife to encourage his 19-year-old first son,
sign a release form allowing the community to be responsible for Ihed’s
funeral, the ex-wife and first son, George Uche, met Jebose Boulevard at
a funeral home to relinquish their rights for the final disposition of
their late father.
association with Ngwa Association, on Monday attempted to move his
remains to a funeral home to prepare him for burial. But the funeral
home indicated that it would only honour the wishes of the family and
not community members; to protect itself from any legal fallout. The
ex-wife and their first son refused to participate in the burial of
their father. On Wednesday afternoon, after several pleas from members
of the community to the ex-wife to encourage his 19-year-old first son,
sign a release form allowing the community to be responsible for Ihed’s
funeral, the ex-wife and first son, George Uche, met Jebose Boulevard at
a funeral home to relinquish their rights for the final disposition of
their late father.
Jebose Boulevard assumed the right to
bury Mr. Ihediwa. This refusal confirmed the conversations trending in
this small town that the children rejected and refused Mr. Ihediwa as
their father. Jebose Boulevard, Ngwa and the Nigerian community moved
his body to the funeral home.
bury Mr. Ihediwa. This refusal confirmed the conversations trending in
this small town that the children rejected and refused Mr. Ihediwa as
their father. Jebose Boulevard, Ngwa and the Nigerian community moved
his body to the funeral home.
Ihediwa and his ex-wife. Stella were married in 1996.
The marriage was blessed with three boys. Ten years after their
marriage, the couple separated on June 23, 2006. The state of North
Carolina granted them certificate of absolute divorce on June 18, 2010.
The marriage was blessed with three boys. Ten years after their
marriage, the couple separated on June 23, 2006. The state of North
Carolina granted them certificate of absolute divorce on June 18, 2010.