Workers drugged co-workers, kill hotelier, manager over money …CCTV nails suspect

 Stanley Ihedigbo

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested two suspects for allegedly drugging their co-workers in order to have opportunity to rob and kill their boss, Mrs Olusola Olusoga, 56, an hotelier.

The police said that the suspects drugged the noodles of their workers, forcing them into a deep sleep, and then proceed to rob and murder Olusoga.

Aside from the hotelier, the hotel manager, Tunji Omikunle, 39, was also killed.  

The two suspects are Ehizojie Vincent Jeffery and Okechi Light Ezi. The police said that other suspect at large are Henry Lolo and two contract staff identified as Dubai and Dangote.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, explained that on January 25, the suspects robbed and murdered the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Etashol Hotels and Suites, situated in Ojodu area of the state.

Imohimi said: “The suspects robbed and murdered the CEO of the hotel, Mrs Olusoga and also strangled the hotel manager, late Tunji Omikunle. The suspects plan, to rob the hotelier was hatched by Henry, Jeffrey, Okechi and two contract staff of the hotel. The principal suspect, Jeffery, was arrested in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, where he went to take refuge after the heinous act. All the conspirators agreed that they had no future in the company because they believed the deceased was stingy.”

 Imohimi further said: “The suspects agreed that the hotelier must be robbed of her local and foreign currency, especially since she had just returned from London. In order to have a hitch-free operation, they agreed that Henry, who is currently at large, must prepare noodles, which is loved by all members of staff. He lanced it with a sleep inducing stimulant called S.K and served the hotel workers, who were not part of the conspiracy.”

The plan would have worked out perfectly, except for Omikunle, who didn’t eat the noodles. He was already asleep when the noodle was being served. While others fell into a drug-induced sleep, the suspects tried to steal the keys to Olusoga’s bedroom from Omikunle.

Imohimi stated:  “Their attempt to steal the keys to the late CEO’s bedroom from the manager’s pocket, proved abortive as he suddenly woke up in the process. He began to struggle with them at the reception area. In the ensuing scuffle, the manager was strangled.”

The CP said that after strangling Omikunle, the suspects searched his pockets, but couldn’t find the keys. They went upstairs to the late CEO’s room and forced the door open.

 “The suspects met an obviously shocked woman in the room and bound her hands and legs with rope. By the time the suspects were through with searching the room for money and other valuables, the woman had died. The gang stole Olusoga’s N50, 000, jewelries and other personal effects. They, however, couldn’t take the items out for fear of being challenged by a police team stationed close to the hotel,” said Imohimi.

Scared stiff and fidgety, the suspects abandoned the loot in the hotel. The CP said that the loot had since been recovered by homicide detectives investigating the case.

“A prima facie case of conspiracy and murder against the suspects had been established.”

The CP further revealed that a Close Circuit Television (CCTV) footage, which was got from the hotel, was made available to the police. The footage clearly showed the role played by each of the suspect in the crime.