In 1990, Prime People carried the news that Charity, a former Port-Harcourt College of Education student was bathed in acid by her jilted boyfriend Chukwudi. The event took place in Port-Harcourt's GRA, and his parting words before fleeing were reportedly "Let me see how any man will love you". Charity was left with burns which disfigured her beyond recognition, and while this was not the first time a Nigerian had become an acid victim, this case was made even more heart-breaking by the fact Charity had been crowned campus queen not long before the incident (Miss Uniport, I believe). Although Chukwudi was arrested, he is believed to have been acquitted.

Following consultation, Charity was deemed eligible for reconstructive surgery abroad, albeit with costs running into thousands. Several well-meaning Nigerians donated money to this cause, and a number of Nigerian celebrities including Onyeka and Femi Jarrett organised gala night fund-raisers and concerts which included raffle draws. The winner of the car during the raffle draw reportedly donated the car to the fund-raisers who sold it to raise more money. Meanwhile, opinions polls debated over which punishment would best suit Chukwudi, thus becoming a talking point among law-makers; even The Third Eye aired an episode in which a gossip journalist was bathed in acid by an angry colleague.

The last time I heard of Charity, Radio Rivers 2 confirmed that Charity had been flown aboard for surgery, but the outcome remains unknown. Does anyone remember this incident? It's a shame given one minute everyone was talking about her, and the next minute no-one cared.