lover, James Turner, 64, deliberately infected her with the Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
State, alleged that the man was also willfully infecting other Nigerian
women with the virus.
she wanted him to be stopped from the wicked action.According to her,
they were live-in partners until she decided to investigate on the drugs
he usually took only to find out it was anti-retroviral.
“I met James Turner eight years ago. He told me to move to his
apartment. I started living with him. We were living like husband and
wife. I later observed that he was falling sick.
“I even followed him to the hospital. He was complaining of internal
heat and he was sweating profusely. The hospital subjected him to some
medical tests. I did not know the result initially as he didn’t allow me
hear what the doctor told him.
“Well, I later discovered that he was taking a particular kind of drug
and he was not getting better. I ‘googled’ the drug and discovered that
it was for HIV patients. I was shocked with the discovery.
“I confronted him but he denied that he has HIV positive. He told me
that the drug was for the sore on his leg. I was not comfortable with
the answer. I told him that if I must believe him, he should avail me
with the doctor’s phone number, but he refused.
“While he was sleeping, I searched the phone and I saw the doctor’s
number. I called him and he said I should come to the hospital. When I
went to the hospital, the doctor told me that my boyfriend is HIV
positive.
“My world crumbled, I fell down and started crying. I regretted ever
meeting the man. The doctor advised that I should do test first to know
my health status before complaining as I might not be infected. I did
the test and it was positive. The doctor took my blood sample to another
hospital for confirmation test and the result was positive. I was
totally down even though I had no symptoms.
“Well, to kill anger and boredom, I followed some of my friends to a
party. He kept calling me whether I was coming home, I became suspicious
and lied to him that I won’t come back that night. I was shocked that
when I arrived home, I caught him pants down, sleeping with my very good
friend. I got angry and told him he was wicked.
“It was at that time that I knew he deliberately infected me with HIV as
he started shouting down at me. He told me that I should go to hell,
that he has infected many girls and that he was just beginning. He told
me that I was a fool. He told me that he sent his wife home immediately
he tested positive to HIV.
“He told me to hang myself. He said he’s over 60 years and that he has
lived almost his life span, but that I was still 31 and no one would
marry an HIV positive person. He told me to go and report anywhere I
wished as I would be subjected to ridicule and stigmatisation.
“After listening to his humiliation,I attempted suicide, but I was
rescued by my friend. I went back to the doctor, who invited him and
advised him to set up a business for me, so that I would be able to
raise money for anti-retroviral drugs. He promised to give me N2.5
million to set up business.
“Each time I reminded him of the money, he would start shouting me down.
He would start boasting that I was not the only person that he has
infected. He would tell me that he has just started, that he would
finish Nigerians before he leaves the country.
“I decided that before he succeeds in finishing young Nigerian girls, I
should expose him. That is the reason I reported him to the Police. I
want the police to stop him as he has gone berserk infecting people and
boasting about it.”
However, Turner denied the allegation, insisting it was the complainant who infected him with the virus.
The Irish national was very rebellious and attacked reporters who wanted
to take his photograph. He also threw aside midgets and other recording
devices that were placed before him for his side of the story.
According to him, he was not going to talk about the issue because the complainant wanted to extort him.
He said: “Bullshit! The girl and others love money. They want to extort
me. I am HIV positive, I know, but she infected me. Ask her what
happened in 2013 when she travelled to Kaduna. It was at that time that
she got it and infected me. Let her get away. I told her that we should
settle the matter, but she decided to embarrass me. I won’t take it.
“I don’t understand why she is bringing all these things up. I did not
rape her. We were friends and we will remain friends. I repeat, she was
the person who infected me with HIV.”
Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP) confirmed that the suspect was
arrested following a compliant by his lover.
“On October 13, the Ikeja Division of the command got report from a lady
that a friend of hers deliberately infected her with HIV. There seems
to be counter allegations. We discovered that one of them infected the
other and this is a crime under Section 24 of the Criminal Act. If there
is a deliberate act, the law will take its full course.