34-Year-Old Painter Commits Suicide in Lagos Neighbourhood

KUNLE AKINRINADE
The normal quiet life of occupants of 19,Adebiyi Street,Somolu,Lagos State was stirred to life on Tuesday May 24,2011 when one of the tenants of the building Ismail Kalejaiye took his own life.
Ordinarily, that fateful day should have been one of the happiest days in the life of 34-year-old deceased who was a painter in his lifetime. He just got a painting contract worth N200, 000 after experiencing a lull in his business and had bought materials worth several thousands of naira to execute the project.
Unfortunately, moments after he returned from the mosque, where he had gone to perform Asri at 4p.m. he went straight to his room and hung himself with a rope tied to the ceiling of his apartment.
The apparently unaware neighbours of the deceased soon knew better when the deceased’s brother who lives with him returned from work later in the evening only to discover that the door to their apartment had been locked from the inside.
When he could no longer comprehend what was going on, he allegedly forced the door open and was shocked to see his brother’s body dangling from the ceiling. He subsequently alerted neighbours to the discovery at about 6.p.m.
Within a twinkle of an eye, the incident attracted mass of residents who trooped out to catch a glimpse of the gory sight of Kalejaiye who was said to be popular among residents.
The landlord of the building, Mr. Sunday Mate explained that he was not aware of the incident until the deceased’s brother broke the news to him.
He said:” I was shocked when his brother who lives with him raised the alarm upon discovering the body of his late brother dangling from the ceiling. No one could comprehend the reason for his action because he did not leave any suicide note. He was such a gentle person and I have never seen him quarrel with anyone since he moved into my house”
Findings revealed that Kalejaiye’s girlfriend had earlier visited him on the fateful day and she was said to have left him at 2p.m. after helping him out with some house chores.
One of his sisters simply identified as Nurat was said to have visited him in the morning and she had promised to talk to their elder brother oversea to assist the decease.
Some tenants of the building who spoke with our correspondents on a condition of anonymity explained that they were shock that Kalejaiye who they described as unassuming could take to suicide.
“It was shocking to discover that Mr. Kalejaiye who we popularly called Alfa could take to suicide. He was such an easy going and he never had any misunderstanding with any of us since he moved into this house a few years ago. Only God knows what could have led him to take such a misguided decision because he was planning to get married soon. In fact, his girlfriend was here today and she left in the afternoon”, said one of his co tenants.
It was gathered that the mother of the deceased who was unaware of the incident had called his mobile phone severally while the body of her son was still dangling from the ceiling while one of his brothers based overseas was also said to have called him.
Findings further revealed that his brother based abroad had offered to facilitate his travel to the United State of America (USA) when the deceased complained of business downturn only a few months ago.
A source said: “Only recently, one of his brothers in the US offered to take him to the country when he (Kalejaiye) complained of lull in his business. You won’t believe it that while his body was still dangling from the ceiling that same brother also called his mobile phone”
A highly placed police source at the Alade Police Station, Somolu confirmed the incident.

Hotel Security Guards Kill 40-Year-Old Customer At Dawn

KUNLE AKINRINADE

It was too late on May 11, 2011 when 40- year –old Kehinde Taiwo checked into a hotel at Ota, Ogun State to pass the night. Unknown to him, evil was lurking in the dark. Three security guards who welcomed him on arrival allegedly dispatched him to early grave gruesomely.
It was gathered that the deceased had held a meeting with some family members earlier in the day at Pleasure area of Iyana Ipaja , Lagos State. Findings also revealed that the meeting lasted till late in the evening thus prompting the late businessman to check into Nimot Hotel& Suites, Nimot Close, Ota after he had visited his filling station within the neighbourhood. The deceased who drove into the hotel in his ML Mercedes Benz Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) was accompanied to the hotel by one of his friend Engr. Friday Williams.
Investigations further revealed that shortly after settling down in his hotel room, the Ilero, Oyo State born petrol dealer who returned to Nigeria from United Kingdom two years ago to take over the investments left by his late brother received a phone call. He was said to have stepped out from his room to answer the call because of bad network.
So sad!, the same security guards that welcomed him into the hotel when he checked in allegedly pounced on him and inflicted machete cuts on his stomach and head. He died shortly after the attack.
In an attempt to cover their track, the security guards were said to have subsequently dumped his corpse outside the hotel with his intestine ripping out of his body. It was gathered that the deceased’s friend Engr. Williams could not go out of his hotel room because the door was locked from outside by the attackers. Williams had to call his wife and brother to inform them of his plight at the hotel.
The police was subsequently invited while two security guards were arrested and detained. The third security guard however managed to escape.
Speaking with The Nation, the crest fallen widow of the deceased Mrs. Philomena Taiwo said there was more to her husband’s death than meet the eyes.
She said:”What a waste of innocent soul by wicked security guards? What could have made them to kill my husband? He was not into shady deals. He was a trustworthy husband and a caring father of his two children. What would I tell his children now? They have killed my joy…”
“There is more to my husband’s death and I believe that the truth will definitely prevail”, she added.
A highly placed source said that the Taiwo was a generous giver who was always willing to help others in the community.
“That man was very generous. Not a few people in this community will readily attest to his benevolence. There is no day he would pass through the streets without dolling out money to people .He was always willing to help people in need. Only God knows why he was killed by the guards in such gruesome manner.”
In a telephone conversation with the Police Public Relations Officer of Ogun State Police Command, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi,he explained that the two security guards had been arrested and charged to court.
“The late Taiwo actually lodged into the hotel around11.30 pm. He was allegedly killed by the suspects around 3 am. His friend who checked in with him that night Engr. Williams was watching the scenario through the window because his room had been locked from the outside. At the moment, we have charged the two suspects to court.”
The two security guards arrested Ogunrinola Salmon and Oladele Onipede were arraigned before an Ota Magistrate Court presided by Mr.O.O.Ojo on a two count charge of murder and felony. The matter was however adjourned till August 11,2011.
It was gathered that the deceased’s elder brother was killed in similar circumstances two years ago in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In his words, immediate elder brother to the deceased Mr. Kunle Taiwo described his late brother as a jovial and that he was the rallying point of the family.
He said:” Although he cannot be said to be highly religious but he performed Salat prayers on Sundays and he was a very jovial person. Above all he was a lover of justice because he hated seeing people being cheated. We are going to miss him a lot because he had been the one taking care of his late elder brother’s family and even sold one of his landed properties to take care the family left behind by his brother. He was very enterprising and possessed outstanding business acumen. Although he was managing the business left by our late brother but he also has established a personal business importing fuel pump from China.”
The deceased who graduated from the University of Lagos Unilag with a degree in Political Science before traveling to England was said to have been told by some seers not to stay late outside.
“Two weeks before he was killed he had barely arrived at his Magodo, Lagos residence when his car suddenly caught fire. It was only sheer providence that he was rescued by those around who quickly put out the fire. He also told us how he had been warned by seers not to keep late nights because evil was lurking in the dark for him. He prayed against it and we also helped him with prayers. I spoke with him around 11pm that fateful day before he was killed. We are seven in the family and two have been brutally killed. ”
The deceased has since been buried in his home town, Ilero, Oyo State.

Who Killed These Men?

The puzzle is what an Edo High Court is trying to solve
Kunle AKINRINADE

The circumstances leading to the death of Ndubuisi Christian Nnalue, Godwin Isidielu, Chukwudi Eke, Uche Onwuesi and Chinedu leaves many questions than answer. Are they actually victims of extra judicial killing?
This poser will find answer in the matter now before Hon. Justice A.A. Okeke of the Federal High Court, Benin, Edo State.
The deceased persons were allegedly suspected to be kidnappers and they were being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Edo States where they allegedly died in controversial circumstances.
In a sworn affidavit filed before the court by one of the deceased’s person’s brother Chibuike Nnalue, he alleged that on Thursday October 14, 2010 at about 6pm, his cousin Chukwudi Eke was driving home in his Audi 80 car in company of a friend when he slowed down and applied a break. He averred that a certain couple in a Golf car suddenly smashed Eke’s car from the behind damaging the rear of the car. Instead of owning up, the owner of the car called Victor Okakah turned around to blame his late cousin for being responsible for the accident and his action did not go down well with Eke’s friend, Chinedu who in annoyance banged on the Golf car damaging its rear thus fueling the already tensed situation at the scene of the incident.
Chibuike averred that following a hot argument between the occupants of the two cars which subsequently degenerated into a fight Okakah’s wife raised the false alarm that Eke and his friend were kidnappers thus attracting the attention of some policemen from the nearby Oregbeni Police Station, Ikpoba Hill, Benin City, to the scene of the incident leading to the arrest of Eke and Chinedu.
He averred further that in attempt to secure bail for the duo, three other persons were allegedly arrested and detained at the police station before being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).He claimed that the news of the controversial death of the five men was broken to other family members who went to secure their bail at the SCID on Saturday October 16, 2010.
The applicant contended that there is absolutely no reason for the killing of the deceased persons who, in the eyes of the law are presumed innocent until proven guilty of the offence by court.
In a writ of summons(FHC/B/CS/19/2011) filed by Barrister Chris Nwadigo on behalf of Ifeoma Nnalue and 22 family members of the deceased’s persons against the Inspector General of Police and 11 others seeking the enforcement of fundamental human rights of the victims, the plaintiffs are seeking among other reliefs, a declaration that the arrest, detention and killings of late Messrs Ndubuisi Christian Nnalue, Godwin Chigbo Isidielu, Chukwudi Eke, Uche Onwuesi and Chinedu, the breadwinners of the applicants at their prime of their youth, by the respondents and /or their agents, on or about 16th day of October 2010 at Benin City, Edo State is unlawful, unconstitutional, illegal and gross violations of the right to life of the deceased persons guaranteed under Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights,1948.A declaration that the arrest, detention and killings of Messrs Ndubuisi Christian Nnalue, Godwin Chigbo Isidelu, Chukwudi Eke, Uche Onwuesi and Chinedu, the bread winner of the applicants at the prime of their youth, by the respondents and/or their agents, on or about 16th day of October,2010 at Benin City, Edo State without any investigation and without giving the deceased persons any opportunity of defending themselves or without charging or arraigning the deceased persons before any court or tribunal is unlawful, unconstitutional, illegal and gross violations of the right to fair hearing of the deceased persons guaranteed under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights of 1948.A declaration that the killings of late Messrs Ndubuisi Christian Nnalue,Godwin Chigbo Isidelu,Chukwudi Eke,Uche Onwuesi and Chinedu,the breadwinner of the applicants at the prime of their youth by the respondents and/or their agents on about 16th day of October 2010 at Benin City, Edo State on the notion or erroneous belief and /or branding or characterization of the deceased persons as ‘kidnappers’ is unlawful, unconstitutional, illegal and gross violations of the rights to dignity of human persons guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights(Ratification and Enforcement) Cap A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,2004 and Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In the suit, the plaintiffs are seeking N1b damages for the death of the deceased persons. In the particulars of aggravated damages, the plaintiffs stated that ‘the police authorities despite their awareness of the fact that the matter leading to the arrest and detention of the deceased persons was a minor motor accident involving only two of the deceased persons namely; Messrs Chikwudi Eke and Chinedu and the complainant(s), they still refused and neglected to investigate the matter even after seeing the vehicles involved. Even when the complainants confessed that it was not a case of kidnapping, but an accident, the police still went ahead to summarily execute the five innocent young fellows within two days of arrest and detention based on false and malicious allegations of kidnapping’
However, in a joint counter affidavit deposed to by Pius Omorodion,a police officer attached to the SCID,Benin he averred that it was untrue that the deceased persons were not killed by policen while in detention adding that they died when they were led by policemen to effect the arrest of their kingpin. He averred further that the deceased persons were ambushed by their gang members with heavy sporadic shooting and that they sustained injury during the ambush which subsequently led to their death while being taken to hospital for treatment.
Counsel to the respondents, Barrister Osadolor Okunkpolor opposed the reliefs being sought by the plaintiffs.
The defence counsel in the preliminary objection averred that the
Fundamental rights as enshrined in chapter IV of the Nigerian Constitution are not enforceable by dead persons and are not enforceable on their behalf and that the rights which the applicants seek to enforce do not constitute part of the rights protected within the provisions of Chapter IV.
Counsel to the respondents argued further that two or more persons cannot file an application for the purpose enforcing their fundamental rights and that members of a family cannot maintain a joint action for the enforcement of their fundamental right.
Counsel to defendants averred that parties named in the application for the enforcement of fundamental rights have not been properly described or identified because the affidavit of Chibuike Nnalue in support of the application for the enforcement of fundamental rights is incompetent for failure to comply with the provisions of the Evidence Act.
Further hearing in the matter continues.

22-year-old kerosene explosion victim battles for life at LUTH

I lost her father six years ago, I don’t want to lose her too, says distraught mother
KUNLE AKINRINADE

Nothing could have given the Adegbite family the premonition that evil was lurking in the dark on Wednesday April 27, 2011. Sadly, it was the day kerosene explosion occurred at their residence in Itele, Ota , Ogun State. Their daughter, Shakirat, was severely burnt and she is at the moment battling for her life at the emergency ward of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi- Araba, Lagos.
On the fateful day, she was inside their room with a friend. There was a power outage and the 22 year-old apprentice tailor wanted to lit the lantern when it suddenly exploded with a loud noise.
On her bedside at LUTH, she cut a pitiable sight while sharing her heart rending experience with The Nation.
Hear her:”I was inside the room with one of my friends that night. Then there was no light and I lit the lantern and while I was trying to adjust the lantern, it blew up with a deafening sound”.
She explained further how her dress caught fire and her fruitless attempt to quell it which eventually made her to suffer first degree burns.
She said: “The next thing was that my wrapper was on fire. I struggled frantically to put it off but before I could do that I was already burnt seriously. Although some neighbours tried to salvage the situation but their efforts did not help much. I was rushed to a nearby hospital in the area before I was later referred to LUTH.”
She explained that her parents had exhausted their savings on her treatment adding that doctors at the hospital said she would need N2.5million for an urgent operation to save her life.
“I am an apprentice and I don’t have any money. My parents and some of my friends have been sustaining me but now I need the assistance of the state governments and kindhearted Nigerians to undergo operation. For now, it is almost a hopeless situation because there is no money to cater for my treatment anymore while my condition could worsen in the next few days”
Recalling the incident, the distraught mother of the victim, Mrs. Tinu Adegbite-Olusesi, in an emotion laden voice threw more light into how the incident happened.
She said:” I never knew until now that kerosene could cause explosion. She (Shakirat) was actually the person I sent to buy the inflammable kerosene two days before the incident .On the day of the incident; I was at the back of our building when a power outage occurred. She had poured kerosene into the lantern and it was while she lit the lantern that it exploded. Her screaming attracted me and everyone around and we rushed in to the room to see what had happened. We got into the room only to find out that her wrapper had caught fire while fire was all over her”
“Neighbours around poured detergent water on her body to quench the fire while some applied egg yoke on her body to contain the burns on her body. We then rushed her to the Ota General Hospital where she stayed for one week before moving her to LUTH on doctors’ advice”.
She explained how she sold a landed property among other personal belongings to take care of Shakirat’s treatment adding that the family is currently facing serious financial predicament.
“Since the incident happened I have virtually sold everything I have laboured for in life to take care of my daughter because I know that if she’s alright and blessed she will take care of me too. I sold a plot of land at Itele for N200, 000 thinking that the money would be enough to take care of her treatment. I have also sold some of my personal belongings like jewellery, deep freezer among others all to no avail. I have spent over N300, 000 most especially on drugs and other items for her treatment and I am now left with nothing”.
She also recalled how she lost her husband a few years ago and the the pains of caring for her children.
“We moved into our house about six years ago but my husband (Shakirat’s father) died four years ago and I have ever since been saddled with the burden of taking care of my three children. Shakirat finished her secondary education a few years ago and she opted to train as a tailor because she did not want to place additional burden on me by furthering in her education”
She further explained that N2.5 million will be needed to restore Shakirat’s health and that the family can no longer afford to take care of further treatment at the hospital.
Hear her:”Doctors have said that we must provide N2.5million for Shakirat’s surgery which will enable her to get back on her feet once again but I am helpless now. I don’t have any money”
“Therefore, I am appealing to well meaning Nigerians to come to my rescue so as to take care of Shakirat. It was six years ago when I cried profusely following the death of my husband and I don’t want to lose my daughter again”, she added.
To this end, financial help should be forwarded to Fidelity Bank Plc account number 6018030375 while the mother of the victim can be contacted on 08063701059.

46-year-old housewife dies after eating a meal of beans and fried plantain

We took her to three hospitals but they couldn’t save her life-husband
Kunle AKINRINADE
Nothing exemplifies grief more than the mood at No 9, Musiliu Disu Street, Akesan, off LASU-Iyana-Iba Road penultimate. Heads shook in palpable heartfelt anguish. Tears flowed freely as fervent prayers poured from the lips of sympathizers for the beleaguered family over the loss of their matriarch, Mrs. Grace Osunwa.
Many of the sympathizers were members of the community development association who had come to commensurate with the husband of the deceased Mr. Anthony Osunwa on that day when the reporter visited.
An unforgettable day it was: Wednesday, April 27,2011. The family woke up in their usual manner to observe the Morning Prayer. Cunning devil! Just a few hours later, the unfortunate incident they never imagined befell them.
In a manner that bordered on the mysterious, the mother of four prepared some beans and fried plantainSW as breakfast for the family by herself. Moments after she ate the meal with her family she complained of rumbling stomach and all efforts by her children and neighbours to contain the situation yielded no fruits.
The situation compelled the family to contact her husband who had left home moments after eating the meal while efforts were made to ferry her to the nearby Alimosho General Hospital.
The Nation learnt that the 46-year-old Awe, Oyo State born deceased was taken to various hospitals until she was finally admitted at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi- Araba (LUTH) where she gave up the ghost before doctors could perform a major surgery on her.
The 52-year-old widower, a property developer puts it thus:”We usually have enough foodstuffs in our home because we buy in large quantity. So, on the fateful day my wife cooked the beans and fried plantain which we ate including the children before I went out. Not long after the meal, she complained of rumbling stomach and surprisingly her stomach started swelling,’’ he explained.
“I immediately contacted the family doctor whose intervention could not save the situation and it was the doctor who suggested we take her to the nearby Alimosho General Hospital”
At the Alimosho General Hospital, the family was told that no doctor was around to attend to the deceased from where she was thus referred to Ikeja General Hospital where again she was refused admission because of lack of bed space.
Hear him: “When we took her to Alimosho General Hospital, we were told that no doctor was on duty, hence, we were referred to Ayinke House tucked inside Ikeja General Hospital. There, they told us that they had no bed space. She was then referred to Railway Hospital in Ebute-Metta. We were asked to deposit N20,000 which I did and all kinds of drugs were prescribed which we bought. At a point the doctors said they would carry out surgery on her and I was asked to deposit N16,000 which I immediately paid to save her life. Surprisingly, that very night they again explained that the hospital lacked the necessary facility to carry out such operation and instead referred her to LUTH at 1 am.”
Like every other person in such situation would, Osunwa immediately took hold of his wife and rushed her to LUTH in the dead of the night.
“I did not even mind that it was late already because it was around 1am that doctors at the hospital explained to me that it was risky carrying out such operation since they lacked the necessary facility. By the time I took her to LUTH it was around 3am where doctors said there was a need for an urgent blood transfusion. They said that they don’t have blood at the hospital and I was asked to go back to Ikeja General Hospital to purchase blood and I promptly did so hoping that her life could be saved.”
“But before the blood could be transfused, my wife died, I believe that if my wife had received prompt medical attention she wouldn’t have died and the incident is rather a sad commentary on the state of healthcare delivery in Nigeria where people die because of lack of prompt medical attention. Imagine, there was no clue to what was wrong with her yet they kept prescribing all kinds of drugs which we bought. As a matter of fact, we had to return drugs worth N44, 000 after she died and it’s rather very painful we lost her’’ Osunwa said.
Recalling the fond memories of his wife, he said:” I never believed that she could leave me so soon. We never quarrel for a day. She was unassuming and a very caring wife. She stood by me when things were bad and we have been married for 27 years now. It’s so sad she died when things are beginning to look up for me.”
“When we moved into our residence, some years ago, the whole place was a jungle and all kind of animals ranging from monkeys, antelopes and poisonous reptiles roamed around here freely. Besides, this area was under the constant grip of armed robbers and the situation almost forced me to relocate from here. But she always encouraged me to be patient that things would get better. My second daughter, Ngozi, who is a final year Banking/ Finance student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has just come home on a short break not knowing that she had come home to bury her mother.“
“As a mark of honour whether the cause of her death was detected or not she’s going to buried in one of the rooms in my house because we suffered together when things were very bad for us. She did not mind the fact that I am an Ibo when we met and she practically did everything possible to raise the children amidst our inadequacies back in the days.”
“If she had eaten the meal alone one would have suspected a foul play but we all ate together and everyone is hale and hearty. I shared in the same meal including the children and nothing is wrong with me. You can even see her children; they are all okay but I know that everything is open before God because her death still remains a mystery to me,” he added.
Meanwhile, doctors at LUTH are trying to unravel the cause of her death while her remains have since been deposited at the mortuary.