…My husband’s colleagues attempted bribing me with N200,000 –Wife alleges
• He was my only sibling, his killer must be killed -Deceased’s sister
Joy Anyim
Habeeb Ibrahim Oluwe was a 40-year-old man, a native of Kwara State, who was married to two wives and blessed with three children.
Oluwe, a member of the tricycle operators association at the Ile Epo area of Agbado-Oke Odo Council Development Area in Lagos was easy-going and a near definition of a comfortable man.
He was full of life and was even expecting a set of twins from his second wife, who was eight months gone, when tragedy struck on October 20, 2019. He was hacked down in his prime.
Although trained as a videographer, Oluwe had joined the tricycle union years back and had grown through the ranks to be in charge of the garage security.
On the fateful day, a Sunday, the deceased had accompanied his boss, the unit chairman of the association at Ile Epo, Saheed Yekinni, to a party which lasted till about 5:00p.m.
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Oluwe, a close ally and the personal assistant of his boss, who is also known as Akeweje, had accompanied the chairman to his house at Old Ota Road, Abule Egba area, an act which was habitual whenever the duo went out together.
It was while at Akeweje’s house that a colleague, identified as Wale, came asking for the chairman, who Oluwe told was resting and not disposed to seeing anyone. That response angered Wale.
Wale questioned Oluwe’s right to determine who sees the chairman and when to see him. This resulted in an argument which degenerated into a fight. During the fight, Wale had allegedly brought out a charm, with which he hit Oluwe.
Oluwe fell down, started convulsing and struggling for breath. The episode led to his death.
Although the incident happened in the evening, his first wife, Adenike, said she was called by Yekinni about after 2 a.m., who informed her of her husband’s death.
The sad news also made the second wife, who was heavily pregnant to fall into untimely labour.
The twins she reportedly gave birth to prematurely, unfortunately, did not survive it, they also died while doctors were still battling to save her own life.
When The Nigerian Xpress spoke with the heartbroken wife, on the circumstances surrounding her husband’s death,
Adenike accused Yekinni of an attempt to cover up the criminal act. She alleged that Yekinni, at a point, solicited for the release of the suspect who was first arrested by men of the Oke Odo Police Division and later got transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID).
Recalling the event of the fateful day, Adenike said the deceased’s action was as if he had the premonition of his death.
According to her: “That Sunday morning, it was as though Oluwe knew that would be the last time I would see him. It was raining when he came to my shop to tell me that his boss wanted him to accompany him to a party. He left and came back twice, like someone who was being forced to go out. He even called me to help him take an amount of money from home and bring it down to his boss’s house.
“While I was at home searching for the money, he suddenly came back to the house. I was asking him why he had asked me to come to fetch the money for him when he knew he would come for it himself. He even conveyed me with a motorbike, back to my shop and gave me money to prepare rice, which I did. I noticed something was amiss, as he did not return home early and was neither responding to his calls, which made me restless.
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“My husband would hardly stay out till 10 p.m., but that night, I was up till 11 p.m., waiting for him only to be called by my sister-in-law at 12 a.m. to say that she was called by my husband’s colleagues, who informed her that my husband was not feeling well. She said they told her they had taken him to three hospitals, but his condition was not getting any better.
“She asked me to start praying, which I immediately started doing. My mind kept telling me something was not right. It was at past 2 a.m. that his boss called to inform me that my husband was dead. He said he died at the General Hospital at Ile Epo, which I later found out to be untrue. He said we should come and carry his corpse.”
Speaking further, Adenike revealed that Yekinni had also sent three members of the association that morning to inform her of the death, saying her husband slumped and died. She said the trio led her to Oke Odo Police Division, where she later found out the truth.
“When they said we should head to the police division, I was wondering in my mind why we were heading for a police station and not a hospital. It was when I got to the police division that I saw my husband’s corpse on the ground. I then asked why he was there and not the General Hospital morgue. I was later told what happened. How he was hit with some charm by a colleague, who had also been arrested.
“They were pleading with us to accept monetary compensation and settle the matter at the division, which I refused. Even the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) there almost compromised. He had requested for N300,000 to release the suspect. The union even pleaded that I accept N200,000 and let the suspect go. I was baffled by their suggestion. I asked them so my husband’s life was only worth N200,000. I refused the money and insisted I want justice for the death of my husband. It was based on my insistence for justice that the DPO transferred the case to SCIID the next day.”
Adenike also revealed that her quest for justice has cost her a lot, as her husband’s colleagues have distanced themselves from her and have even refused to show her where her husband’s landed property, which he recently acquired through the union is located.
She said: “My husband had about two tricycles. Do you know that since the incident, I have been asking them the names and phone numbers of the drivers and they have refused to tell me? Even the plot of land he recently acquired through his union, which we were planning when to go and see and commence work on, his colleagues have refused to take the family there. I suspect they have a mission for killing my husband, and they also want to take over all his investments.
“Even the day we buried my husband, I heard his colleagues who came sat far off. They did not even get involved or associate with anyone.”
While calling for help, the distraught wife said she can not take care of her three children with her lean income, hence any assistance from the government and the general public would be appreciated.
“I don’t have the resource to take care of my children. They deserve quality education and proper upbringing, and my late husband had committed himself to this cause until his death. I am calling on the Lagos State Government to come to my aid. What I make from my shop cannot be enough for the children’s feeding, education and clothing. I really need help right now, I cannot do this alone,” she said in tears.
The only sibling of the deceased, Adenike Adeyunju, also berated the association. Asked what she wants to be done, Adeyunju said she demanded justice. In clear terms, she said she wanted the suspect killed, the same way he had killed her brother.
“Even if they give us N10 million, it will not bring back my brother. So I don’t want any form of compensation from them. Oluwe was my only brother, we lost our father and mother early in life and we both have been struggling through life together. Now that it seemed as though things were getting better for him, someone killed him just like that. Wale must also be killed, let his family feel the pain we are feeling. Let the two of them go to the great beyond and face judgement.
“Do you know it was even three persons that were killed. We lost my brother and two of his unborn children. His second wife lost twin babies because of the news. So, how much will they pay to make up for the three lives lost? The annoying part of this matter is that the union chairman and his colleagues lied. They did not take him to the hospital. They just left him to die like a chicken, despite all the sacrifice he made for the association. He was dedicated to that association, and was a very calm and peace-loving fellow.”
The correspondent visited SCIID to also hear from the suspect. The police detectives at the homicide section prevented the suspect from talking to the press. They said he would be charged to court soon.
