The Late Friend
A 28-year-old trader, Chukwuebuka Okeke, has allegedly
killed his friend and roommate, Nwabuike Ezeike, 39, after a disagreement over
a N5, 000 electricity bill. Punch Metro learnt that the incident happened on
Tuesday on Tokosi Street, Orile-Iganmu.
One of their correspondents gathered that the friends, who
were traders on the Lagos Island, had been together for a long time. They were
also said to have contributed money for the rent of the single-room apartment.
were traders on the Lagos Island, had been together for a long time. They were
also said to have contributed money for the rent of the single-room apartment.
The men, who hail from the same Ishida community, in the
Anocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, however, had a disagreement over
their electricity bill.
Anocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, however, had a disagreement over
their electricity bill.
A relative of the deceased, Ben Eze, said the deceased had
paid the suspect some money as his contribution towards the bill.
paid the suspect some money as his contribution towards the bill.
He said, “But his friend squandered the money. So, as the
payment became overdue and pressure was mounted on him to release the money, he
passed on the aggression to the deceased and there was a fight. He was actually
asleep when he attacked him.
payment became overdue and pressure was mounted on him to release the money, he
passed on the aggression to the deceased and there was a fight. He was actually
asleep when he attacked him.
“People had separated them when he suddenly punched him in
the head. He was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.”
the head. He was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.”
It was learnt that the case was reported at the Orile Police
Division and the suspect was arrested. The matter was later transferred to the
State Department of Criminal Investigation, while the corpse of the victim was
deposited at the Lagos Mainland mortuary.
Division and the suspect was arrested. The matter was later transferred to the
State Department of Criminal Investigation, while the corpse of the victim was
deposited at the Lagos Mainland mortuary.
Another relative, Charles Anolue, said the victim was
supposed to have his engagement ceremony later this month before he was killed.
He said the family was pained that despite the death, the family of the suspect
had not shown any sign of remorse over the incident.
supposed to have his engagement ceremony later this month before he was killed.
He said the family was pained that despite the death, the family of the suspect
had not shown any sign of remorse over the incident.
“We are grieved and despite our loss, we would have resolved
this case because we are from the same community. But the suspect’s family have
been playing games which we don’t understand, and that is why we are ready to
pursue this case to a logical end,” he added.
this case because we are from the same community. But the suspect’s family have
been playing games which we don’t understand, and that is why we are ready to
pursue this case to a logical end,” he added.
Lawyer for the deceased’s family, F.S. Oladele, urged the
police to dig up all the evidence of the case.
police to dig up all the evidence of the case.
However, the elder brother of the suspect, Emeka Okeke,
explained that his family was not happy over the incident and efforts by
community leaders to wade in had been frustrated by the deceased’s family.
explained that his family was not happy over the incident and efforts by
community leaders to wade in had been frustrated by the deceased’s family.
“These two men have been friends for a long time and they
are both traders. What happened between them was unfortunate and I know
Chukwuebuka had no intention of killing his friend,” he added.
are both traders. What happened between them was unfortunate and I know
Chukwuebuka had no intention of killing his friend,” he added.
Counsel for the suspect, Spurgeon Ataene, denied that the
28-year-old killed the victim. He said, “It was the deceased that attacked
first and my client dodged his blow. It was the force with which he attempted
to punch my client that made him crash into a wall, thereby killing himself.”
28-year-old killed the victim. He said, “It was the deceased that attacked
first and my client dodged his blow. It was the force with which he attempted
to punch my client that made him crash into a wall, thereby killing himself.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joe Offor,
confirmed incident, adding that investigation was on at the SDCI.
confirmed incident, adding that investigation was on at the SDCI.
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