Police Arrest Landlord Over Death of 29-year old Man Lekan Adeniyi

 

       The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a landlord, Adeyemo Ojo, for the death of a 29-year-old man, Lekan Adeniyi.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Adeniyi died shortly after having a misunderstanding with Ojo on Gbenga   Oguntade Street, Olubondu area of Ipaja on December 31, 2013.

        It was learnt that Ojo, who was the former Chief Security Officer of the neighbourhood association, had an argument with the deceased over N3, 000.

         Friends of the deceased said Adeniyi had gone in company with some of his friends to see the deceased at his home where Ojo accused him of making away with his money.

        One of the friends, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “We held a carnival around Christmas and we did not involve Ojo. A few days later, Ojo invited Adeniyi to his house as he was not happy over the issue. About three of us went with Adeniyi to Ojo’s house.

“Ojo said he gave Adeniyi N3, 000 to pay into the neighbourhood association’s account three years ago. Adeniyi said he was not the one and told Ojo to try to trace the actual person he gave the money to.

“Ojo then offered us food but we told him that we had eaten so he gave us a bottle of wine, but we did not drink. We took it along with us.”

It was learnt that about 15 minutes after leaving Ojo’s house, Adeniyi suddenly fell ill and collapsed.

It was learnt that he was rushed to a nearby hospital and later referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, where he gave up the ghost.

“As we were walking, Adeniyi started complaining of neck pain and clinched unto his neck. After sometime, when we asked him what was wrong, his tongue got stuck and he could not speak. He died soon after,” the deceased’s friend said.

Our correspondent learnt that after Adeniyi’s death, irate mob stormed Ojo’s house and vandalised it. They accused him of killing Adeniyi through metaphysical means.

It was learnt that Ojo’s dog was also killed while his vehicle and blocks were destroyed.

PUNCH Metro learnt that it took the intervention of policemen attached to the Ipaja Police Division to disperse the rampaging youths.

Our correspondent learnt that Ojo was subsequently arrested.

In his statement at the police station, Ojo, a carpenter, said he had no hand in Adeniyi’s death and said the incident was orchestrated by his detractors.

It was learnt that the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba

When our correspondent visited the area, posters of the deceased were seen all over the place.

Ojo’s wife, who was at her shop, refused to talk with our correspondent when he approached her for comment.

When our correspondent visited the home of the Community Development Association chairman on Brown Street, he was said not to be home.

However, members of the CDA urged the police to ensure that Adeniyi received justice.

A policeman at the Ipaja Division, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the police were waiting for the autopsy result.

“It has been established that there was no physical contact between the suspect and the deceased, but since the deceased was given a bottle of wine, we will wait for an autopsy to point us in the right direction,” he said.