Police arrest 5 alleged killers of NNPC personnel

(Nigeria) The police have arrested five suspects, including a witch-doctor, in connection with the murder of Mr Sylvester Emefiele, staff member of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in September 2012.

They are Olaniyi Banjo, 20, Akindele Taiwo, Timothy Lekan, alias Leksit, 30, Akinlade Taiwo, 41 and a witch-doctor, Saidi Babatunde.

This is contained in a statement by Mr Frank Mba, the Force Public Relations Officer, FPRO on Thursday in Abuja.

Mba, in the statement, described Taiwo, Lekan and Akinlade as the masterminds of the crime, while Babatude, the witch-doctor ``prepared criminal charms for them.’’

The statement explained that their arrest followed a painstaking and diligent investigation by detectives from the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, FSARS.

It recalled that the late Emefiele left Lagos on September 23, 2012, following a call from his office to report to Abuja on September 24, 2012.

``He was to process a visa to go to Hungary for training.’’

It said that on receiving complaint of the sudden disappearance of the deceased through the police email, the I-G promptly ordered a discreet and comprehensive investigation into the case.

``The investigation, led by DCP Chris Ezike, tracked down Banjo, who allegedly bought the blackberry phone of the deceased from one of the principal suspects, Akindele Taiwo. The sustained surveillance and investigative efforts of the police led to the arrest of the masterminds of the crime on June 8, 2013.

``Lekan and Akinlade gave very useful statements to the police about the disappearance, robbing and killing of Sylvester Emefiele. The suspects led detectives to the scene of crime, a bush close to the Iddo Campus of the University of Abuja. This is where the decomposed remains of the deceased, now mere skeletal parts, were recovered’’, the statement read.

According to the statement, a detailed forensic examination, including DNA analysis, confirmed that the remains were those of late Emefiele.

``Other personal effects of the deceased, including cash, ATM cards, laptop, Blackberry phones, cheque books, personal apparels were also recovered.’’

It further explained that the investigation showed that late Emefiele, while en route from Lagos to Abuja, stopped in Giri in Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT at  8p.m. on September 23, 2012.

``He boarded a Nissan Sunny saloon car with Reg. No: AG-956-KEF, driven by Akinlade Taiwo, who picked his accomplice, Timothy Lekan, on the way.

``They subdued their victim and led him to the bush where he was robbed. The two suspects confirmed that they forced the deceased to disclose all his ATM card pin number which enabled them to make an initial withdrawal of N186,000 from his bank accounts in Gwagwalada.’’

They are Zenith Bank, First Bank and GT-Bank.

Mba said the duo decided to kill Emefiele when they discovered that he still had an over N800,000 in his account.

``They did that by binding his wrists with twine and hitting his chest with their talisman and other dangerous weapons until they were sure that their victim’s life had fizzled out. Thereafter, they continued making illicit withdrawals from the victim’s accounts until they were apprehended by the police. The suspects have been arraigned before a competent court of law’’, the statement said.’’

It added that the I-G commended the officers who investigated the case for their diligence, dedication and professionalism and gave assurance that justice would take its course.

It advised Nigerians to be cautious when boarding public vehicles to avoid falling victim of hoodlums.