Stonewater Royal Estate Concerned Over Police Refusal to Transfer Case to FCIID

The Stonewater Royal Estate Landlord and Tenants Association, has raised an alarm over an alleged compromise of the investigation of murder of one Mr. Ifeanyi Olebala who allegedly died on the 22nd February, 2021.

This is contained in a statement made available to LegaldeskNG dated the 7th April, 2021, signed by Solicitor to the Association, Bartholomew Aguegbodo Esq.

The Association accused Section D8 men of the Police Zonal Command Headquarters, Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos, of refusing to transfer the murder case to FCCID Annex, Alagbon and the IGP Monitoring Team, Abuja.

The Association narrates that, on the 22nd February, 2021 at “about 1am, one Mr. Charles who claimed that he works for Mr. Udoye Nwabike as a bulldozer driver, drove a bulldozer within the Estate towards a security building by the gate known as Stonewater Royal Estate, Abule-Ado, Satellite town, Lagos. His intent was to demolish a structure (security building) by the gate of the Estate, erected by the Stonewater Royal Estate Landlord and Tenants Association. There had been been a prior contest, over who owns the land.

“The security men at the gate upon noticing the approaching bulldozer accosted the driver, and ordered him to stop. He refused on the basis that he has the instruction of his master to demolish the structure. The security men on duty had a heated verbal exchange, with the said Mr. Charles. He thereafter, called two other employees of Mr. Udoye Nwabike, one of whom was the deceased in issue, to join him. The security men insisted that whatever would be done would have to be in the day time, and not at that late hour. Noticing that they could not continue with their plans, they left the bulldozer by the gate and left.

“At about 8am of the same day, some area boys with two armed mobile policemen came into the Estate, rounded up the security men found at the security house after shooting sporadically and sending other residents running for safety. The security men were taken to Trade Fair Police Division, and later transferred to Festac Police Division. On 24th February, 2021 at the petition by Mr. Udoye, the matter was transferred to State CIID, Panti Street, Yaba for further investigation.

While investigation was ongoing, Mr. Udoye Nwabike further petitioned the A.I.G Zone 2 Command headquarters, alleging bias on the part of officers investigating the matter at Panti. It will be interesting to note that aside the day the suspects were brought to State CIID, that Mr. Udoye Nwabike never returned to clarify issues about his petition until the matter was transferred to Zonal Command Headquarters, Zone 2, Onikan.

The Association said it lost confidence in Section D8 team of the Zone 2 Headquarters and accordingly petitioned both the Inspector General of Police and his Deputy, calling for constitution of a neutral body to investigate the matter.

They expressed concern that despite the approval of the petition, Zone 2 wilfully refused to transfer the case file to Force CIID.

They also expressed concern, that the issue of alibi raised by the detained suspect has not been investigated.

The Association maintained their position, that an independent neutral body should investigate the matter instead, stating that the Security men of the Estate Association have no link with murder of the deceased.