Relations and friends of late Chibuike Ede, who was said to have died while in Police custody in Benin city, the Edo State capital have asked the Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, to intervene in the matter and help them get justice.
In a protest led by the deceased’s mother, Mrs Christiana Ede, they marched to the Edo State Government house, where they met the Governor.
The family of the deceased said they have every reason to believe that the police as well as the hotel, where the deceased used to work before he passed on, were not telling them the truth about his demise.
They had appealed to the Governor to help them get to the root of the matter.
However, the Edo State Police Command, in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP. Joseph Edoigiawerie, described the incident as “unfortunate”.
The State Command said “the attention of Edo State Police Command has been drawn to the news making the round in the media about the purported torture and murder of a suspect Chibuike Ede ‘m’ at the Adesuwa Police Division.
“It is very unfortunate that some misinformed members of the public would twist the truth to cast aspersion on the image and the professional manner the police has handled the issue”.
“The story going round is false and it is on record that , the management of Protea Hotel reported a case of stealing against the said Chibuike Ede, who was a cleaner in the said hotel, and alleged to have stolen the sum of N48,000.00 belonging to a guest of the hotel, an action captured by the hotel CCTV camera and submitted to the Adesuwa Police Station on 13/03/2015.
“The suspect was subsequently arrested and he confessed to the crime and also claimed to have the money between the fence of the hotel and NNPC mega station.
“On 14/3/2015, the police went with him with a view to recovering the exhibit, but on getting to the scene and as they were alighting from the vehicle, the suspect immediately took to his heels. In the process of running, he ran into a moving Toyota Camry car with registration number FUG 93 JD (EDO), driven by one Obamedo Omoregie. The vehicle dragged the suspect from central road to 1st east circular road along Sapele road before it came to a halt”.
“The suspect sustained bruises on his body and was immediately rushed to UBTH with the assistance of some good Samaritans, where he eventually died.
“The driver of the car has been arrested for causing the death of the suspect, while the car is impounded and the photograph is hereby attached.
“The command is also aware of petition written by the lawyer of the deceased suspect. The case of stealing, fatal motor accident and the petition by the lawyer of the deceased have been transferred to the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation.”, the police said.