Fresh facts have emerged about how two teenagers, aged 16 and 17 conspired to brutally kill their boss, Adeni Iyabode.

The deceased was a popular caterer in Akure, Ondo State capital.

The suspects, Philip Emmanuel and Precious Kolawole who are awaiting trial for murder are presently cooling their heels in prison. They had worked with the deceased for five months and two months respectively before they brutally killed her over a paltry sum of N60,000.

Checks showed that Iyabode treated the teenagers in the same manner she treated her own children. She allowed them access to her kitchen and anywhere in her home. She talked freely in their presence and they knew her ATM PIN.

The late Iyabode celebrated her 54th birthday in July during which she hosted lots of guests. In the course of the celebration, it was gathered that Philip overheard a client telling his boss that N150,000 would be paid into her account.

Philip, who was described as a trusted employee of the deceased, was said to have briefed Precious about the money being expected by their boss. They both agreed that the only way to get the money was to kill her.

On July 25th, two days after the deceased celebrated her birthday, she invited her two staff to her Oda road residence in Akure, the Ondo State capital to help her clean the house without any foreboding they had other plans. She asked both staff to go to the kitchen to prepare food for themselves. It was after eating that they pounced on her while she was asleep and stabbed her severally.

The two assailants severed her head and attempted to set the body ablaze. Unfortunately, they could only withdraw N60,000 and not N150,000 . They split the money into two equal halves and fled.

According to a relative of the deceased, “They covered her head with a duvet and continued hitting her head. They later cut her wrist and leg. They used knives and stabbed her stomach, chest and breasts.

“In a bid to cover their tracks, the suspects attempted to set the victim ablaze but the gas refused to come up.

“They wanted to burn the whole house so that people would think it was caused by a gas explosion from the kitchen. But the gas cylinder did not explode as they planned. They then took her ATM cards and two android phones and fled the scene on that Thursday.”

Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Abayomi Oladipo, said a painstaking investigation led to the arrest of Philip. He said Philip’s voluntary statement expressed their individual degrees of involvement in the dastardly act.

Speaking when he was paraded, Philip denied being the mastermind. He claimed he was drugged by Precious to carry out the act.

According to him, “I am here because I killed my madam. Last month, I worked with her for five months. I was her cook. She just employed a driver who has only worked for two weeks.

One day, the driver came to me and said N150,000 just entered madam’s account. He told me we should kill my madam and collect the money. I said I have not killed someone before.

“On Saturday, madam said I should come and help her wash clothes because she was very tired. The driver came around and madam was surprised but the driver explained that he wanted to help her.

“That day, the driver brought a drink and gave it to me. I drank it. He brought out a cutlass and started threatening me that he would also kill me.

“We went into the house and he pushed me inside. He said I should use the cutlass to hit the woman. I did it. But I started crying.

“After we killed the woman, the driver went to check the money in the account and found only N60,000. He gave me N30,000. I went to Idanre.

“After four days, we heard the woman had died. Police called us to come and explain when last we saw the woman. I told them and they asked me to go home.

“They called me again and told me I am in communication with the driver. I had to confess.”

Precious, who was arrested after two months of being on the run, denied being the mastermind.

He said it was Philip who planned the killing and lured him into the act.

“I am a waiter to her. Two of us were involved in the killing. I was only given a phone and N30,000. It was the second boy that heard about the money. He called me and we did the act.

“I used part of the money and dashed out the rest of the money. I stay with my parents here in Akure. I am still in secondary school.

“I wanted to be an engineer. I know how to drive any kind of truck.”

The Ondo Police Commissioner cautioned Nigerians on discussing sensitive financial information, especially around employees or individuals who might misuse such knowledge.

“Avoid openly discussing financial transactions or other personal matters in the presence of staff or others who do not need to be informed.”

By Francesca Hangeior

The Lagos State Police Command, has confirmed that no case of stealing was established against Nollywood actress, Lizzy Anjorin-Lawal, who was accused of stealing gold at the Oba Akintoye Market in the Lagos Island area of the state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development to our correspondent, who requested an update on the case.

He said during the command’s investigation, it was established that the video showing people, including traders, accusing Anjorin-Lawal of stealing was a mistake of facts.

Hundeyin said, “There was no case of stealing to start with; our investigation revealed that the seller of the goods gave the wrong account number. Out of the 10 digits the person was to provide, one digit was given wrongly and our investigation revealed that Lizzy Anjorin-Lawal did the transfer to the wrong account number.

“But when it turned out that it was a mistake of facts and that they called her a thief in error, Lizzy (Anjorin-Lawal) took the assault meted out against her up and after the suspects were arrested and the case had gone to court, for reasons best known to her, she said she was no longer interested in the case and the case was withdrawn.”

Speaking further, Hundeyin said the people who accused Anjorin-Lawal of stealing, while writing their statements at the police station, confirmed that they were the ones who made the mistake, as it was the seller that gave her the wrong account details.

“Lizzy Anjorin-Lawal transferred what she was supposed to transfer, which was about N90,000, into the wrong account that she was given and there was a receipt; when it was becoming too hot, she again transferred money to the correct account number they gave her.

“So, she did a double transfer just to avoid trouble, even though the mistake was not hers. So, I am confirming that the police investigation revealed that there was no stealing. Lizzy Anjorin-Lawal was not culpable of stealing as she did not engage in stealing according to our investigation,” the PPRO added.

Recall that Anjorin, during her visit to the market, was accused of stealing gold and assaulted by some traders in a video clip that went viral online.

It was reported in February 2024, that no fewer than six traders were arrested in connection to the assault and the six traders were arraigned before the Chief Magistrate Court in Lagos Island Local Government for allegedly assaulting and blackmailing Anjorin-Lawal during her visit to the market to purchase gold.

By Mario Deepromoter

Jigawa Police command has confirmed the death of 95 people and 50 got diffident degrees of injuries in Majiya village of Taura local government area in Jigawa.

Confirming that accident, the Jigawa state command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Lawal Shiisu Adams, said, “Today (Wednesday) a Petro Tanker from Porthacourt going to Nguru in Yobe state reached Majiya village of Taura local government area at around 12:30 am the driver lost control at Majiya and it falls”.

The PPRO added; “The content in the Tanker floors and flooded gutters and drainages in the village. Seen that the villagers started fetching the fuel where the petrol going into flame”.

DSP Shiisu disclosed, “As a result, 95 people confirmed died, and 50 have been hospitalised receiving treatment”.

He, therefore, advised the people to distance themselves from a situation of that nature.

Source: ibomfocus