While the Nigerian music industry still struggles to come to terms with the untimely death of Eric Arubayi, new reports suggest that it may have been as a result of expired medication he took for malaria fever.
The Delta State-born second runner up of the maiden edition of the West Africa Idol, died at a hospital in Delta State over the weekend.
Confirming the demise of the gospel artiste, his brother, Derrick Arubayi, in an exclusive chat with Vanguard, explained that the late Eric took ill after taking an expired drug meant to treat his malaria and typhoid ailment.
He said: “He had malaria and typhoid, which was untreated. It later became worse after he took a medication that had expired and this triggered his liver ailment and afterwards, every other thing just followed at a fast pace before his death.
The only thing that we had to say is that he lived for Christ. We just want the world to know that the name Eric Odafe Arubayi was for a reason beyond the West Africa Idol show.
For that reason, God would make manifest even beyond his glorious ascension.”
The scourge of fake/expired drugs has been an issue Nigeria has been dealing with for a long time. A 2015 NOI poll revealed that 18% of Nigerians have been victims of fake and expired medication.
The late musical icon, born on July 14, 1982, is survived by his wife, a son, who would be two in a few months, two brothers, a sister and parents— Professor and Professor (Mrs) Eric Arubayi.