By Christopher Oji
Lagos State Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, yesterday disclosed that investigation into the death of Rear Admiral Daniel Ikoli revealed that three shots were fired in his room on the day he died.
He said detectives were expanding their investigation, with the cooperation of naval authorities, using exhibits discovered in the late admiral’s room.
Admiral Ikoli, a two-star General of the Nigerian Navy, was found dead in his residence at No. 8b Roycroft Street, Apapa GRA, Lagos, last Wednesday
Speaking yesterday at a press briefing, in Ikeja, Lagos, Owoseni said preliminary investigation revealed that one shots was fired at a television set in the room, as if someone was trying the gun.
He said a second shot was fired at the ceiling, while the third bullet was the one that killed the officer.
He said: “Investigations is still ongoing. Detectives are trying to put together bits and pieces of information and exhibits gathered. What was reported to the police was a suicide case, so we are investigating suicide and not assassination. The officers that responded said the pistol that killed Ikoli was not found on his chest, as insinuated. The pistol is in our custody. However, all the things found in his apartment on the day of the incident will form preliminary report.
He said contrary to the claims of the Nigerian Navy that the police are solely investigating the matter, the command was handling the case along with the Navy.
He said: “The person involved is a very senior naval officer. We will be thorough in our investigation. The police had expressed their willingness to carry out an autopsy on the body of the deceased. However, friends of Ikoli are also demanding ballistics analysis on the pistol found in his apartment to ascertain if the gun actually fired the bunkers extracted.”
Admiral Daniel Teikumo Ikoli was Fleet Commander at Western Naval Command and former member of the Presidential Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement (CADEP).