By Christopher Oji
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested three persons in connection with the death of a popular hotelier, Mr. Femi Bakare Alaba, who was allegedly murdered last Monday by his wife.
The deceased’s family had returned from a trip from Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, before he was murdered in their house at 9, Finance Road, Maplewood Estate, Oko- Oba, Agege, Lagos.
The family had accused Alaba’s wife of using a hot pressing iron to burn the man while he was sleeping.
The police said three persons, including his wife, have been arrested in connection with the murder and that the body has been deposited at Yaba Mainland Hospital’s morgue for autopsy.
According to Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, “The deceased’s wife and three others have been arrested in connection with the suspected murder case. Meanwhile, the case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti, for diligent investigation on the order of the Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alabi.”
A police source at the homicide section of SCIID, said the woman was not cooperating with the police as she has refused to tell investigators on what really happened to her husband.
The police source who said there was more to the murder beyond the allegation that the deceased impregnated another woman as his family were alleging that their brother was questioning the paternity of two of her two out of their three kids.
“ We are investigating and there are many things we are trying to unrevel but they are not what I can tell you till further notice. For now, we are having his wife and two others who though are not cooperating with us,but they will soon open up”, the senior police officer said.
When Alaba and his wife returned recently from a trip from Dubai,their house was a Mecca of sort as family members and friends thronged the premises to welcome them back home
No one could envisage that danger loomed. In fact, if anyone had told them that the life of one of the couple would be abruptly cut short, the person would have been dismissed and tagged a prophet of doom.
Those who visited them when they returned were not disappointed as they were well entertained and got one gift or the other .
The family was described as philanthropists as well as peace lovers that they were the envy of residents. The couple was loved and admired by all.
But in the morning of January 24, things took a dramatic turn to the amazement of all. The owner of the popular Bama Hotel was murdered by his wife of eight years.
According to a source, Bama, as he is fondly called was allegedly roasted to death with a hot iron by his wife.
A resident, who identified himself simply as Emmanuel, said: “My brother, we are still in shock because the unexpected really happened. We were told that Bama’s wife discovered that another woman was pregnant for her husband and was embittered.
“She waited for the man to sleep and used hot iron to press his body and the man died out of severe pain. We are still baffled and surprised how the woman who we saw as easy-going would have the mind to kill her husband in his sleep.
“The deceased was the owner of Bama Hotel and Suite. He was a good man that we respected him a lot. The couple has three kids and they just returned from Dubai before the incident occurred.”
