A Pastor with the Celestial Church of Christ in Lagos has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of Olatunfe Anthony Oluwafemi, last seen with the suspect in a Lagos beach. Also in the police net are two suspects who allegedly killed their opponents during fisticuffs in different areas of the State.
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Bala Elkana, said the pastor was arrested after months of tracking by the police. Elkana explains: “On December 20, 2019, at about 10.30 am, the police received a complaint that on December 12, at about 1.40pm, Olatunfe Anthony Oluwafemi, 29, of 27 Owode Street, Alapere Ketu, who was sent on an errand to Ilupeju has not returned and his whereabouts remained unknown. All efforts made by his family members to trace him were unsuccessful.
“The Itel phone of the missing person was electronically analysed by police forensic experts and that led to the arrest of the user of the phone, a female, Monsurat Gbadegeshin, 23. In her statement, she said her fiancé Abiodun Abiola gave her the phone. That led the operatives to apprehend the said Abiodun Abiola, 30.
“During questioning, Abiodun said Tolu Olurotimi, 20, sold the phone to him, thereby leading the operatives to him. Tolu Rotimi said he bought the phone from Pastor Ejiro Ologonla, 45, a Celestial Church pastor from Delta State but based in Lagos.
“During questioning, Pastor Olagonla, said he was at Oniru beach for spiritual cleansing on that fateful day, when he met the missing Oluwafemi. He stated that while he was at the beach, the missing person who appeared drunk came in and started chasing people around. At a point he saw him climbing a fisherman boat. Later he saw the missing person pulling his clothes, shoes, dropped his phones and jumped into the sea. He claimed that he informed the security men on guard-duty at the beach and also called a police officer as well as one princess Arike Oniru on phone to intimate them of the incident.
“He claimed that he finally picked up the victims clothes, shoes, phone, and sold the phone to Olurotimi, N1,500. The Oniru beach security guards, the fishermen, the Princess, and other witnesses mentioned were invited for questioning. The Fisherman stated that on that fateful day, the missing person came to the beach behaving as if he was drunk. That as he paddled the canoe to the sea, he was alerted that the man was hanging on the canoe. He brought him back and promised to give him fish. But when he came back the following day, he did not see the man again.
The Princess confirmed that the pastor called her to inform her that somebody jumped into the sea and she advised him to report the incident to the nearest police Station. The security guards denied receiving a report of somebody jumping into the sea. The clothes and shoes of the missing person were found in possession of the pastor. It is established that the missing person was actually at Oniru beach before his disappearance. The Pastor was the last person that had contact with the missing person. It is not yet established whether the missing person is dead or still alive. But circumstantial evidences gathered so far, are strongly pointing towards the Pastor.
The Pastor did not just sell the phone belonging to the missing person; he also converted the money he found in the trouser of the missing person to his own use. There is no record showing that the pastor reported the incident to any police station as he claimed. The Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Yaba, for further investigation and diligent prosecution”.
Elkana said in another development that a man was also arrested for allegedly killing a 33- year-old apprentice over N500. He said :”On February 25 at about 12.30 pm , Rafiu Dauda,of 36 Alebiosu Street, Ijegun, Satellite Town reported at Elemoro Police Station that his apprentice Afeez Oluwole ‘ 33 ,was stabbed on the right chest with a broken bottle by Mustapha , along Madoti Estate, Fin-Niger, Satellite town, due to a minor misunderstanding over N500.
“Afeez Oluwole was rushed to Holy Family Hospital where he later died. The body was deposited at the mortuary for post mortem. The suspect has been arrested. He will be charged to Court.”
According to Elkana, yet in another development a young lady was also arrested over the death of a -47- year- old woman. “On February 28, Afeez Oloande of 2 Ado Road, Ajah Lekki and Femi Olasunde reported at Elemero Police Station that on February 27, at Aiyeteju-Ofiran town, Ibeju Lekki, Opeyemi Abidemi, 20, had a fight with Abosede Bello 47. During the scuffle, Abosede Bello slumped and was rushed to Akodo General Hospital where she died the following day. The body was deposited at Epe General Hospital mortuary for post mortem. The suspect has been arrested and she will be charged to Court”.
