Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested one of the suspects that allegedly killed the managing director/chief executive officer of Etashol Hotels and Suites, Mrs. Olusola Olusoga, and her business manager, Tunji Omikunle.
The suspect, Ehizojie, is said to be a staff of the hotel and the police is on the trail of four other staffers who are on the run.
On January 25, the corpses of the London-based hotel CEO, Olusoga, and business manager, Omikunle, were discovered in their separate rooms in the hotel, located in Ojodu-Berger, Lagos.
During investigation by the homicide section of the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (SCIID), the identities of the suspects were discovered through the closed-circuit television (CCTV) mounted in the hotel.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal, at a press briefing said Ehizojie, the prime suspect, was arrested in Port Harcourt, River State, where he had been hiding after the crime.
The plan to rob the deceased business woman was hatched by three (3) staff of the hotel namely: Henry Lolo, Ehizojie Vincent Jeffrey, Okechi light Ezi and two (2) contract staff who were identified by their aliases, viz: Dubai and Dangote have been declared wanted.
The police boss said the suspect revealed that the victims were strangled to death: “Ehizojie, the principal suspect that was arrested in Port Harcourt, where he had gone to take refuge after the heinous act, said all the conspirators agreed that they had no future in the company because they believed the deceased was miserly. They, therefore, agreed that she must be robbed of her hard-earned local and foreign currencies, being a London returnee.
“In order to have a hitch-free operation, they agreed that Lolo, currently at large, should prepare noodles, a delicacy loved by all staff members, and lace it with a sleep-inducing stimulant called S.K., to be served the rest of the staff who were not part of the conspiracy.
“Their plan worked as they successfully sent the rest to early sleep except the late manager who was already asleep before he could be served with the poisoned meal.
“However, their attempt to steal the key to the late CEO’s bedroom from the late manager’s pocket proved abortive as he woke in the process and began to struggle with them at the reception area; in the ensuing scuffle, the manager was strangled to death.
“After strangulating the hotel manager, Tunji Omikunle, they searched his pockets but couldn’t find the keys, so they went upstairs to the late CEO’s room and forced it open. They met an obviously shocked woman in the room and bound her hands and legs. By the time they were through, the woman died.
“The gang stole her money and N50,000 only, jewelry and other personal effects but couldn’t take it out of the hotel for fear of being challenged by a police team stationed close to the hotel. So, they abandoned the loot in the hotel, which has been recovered as exhibit by homicide detectives investigating the case.
“Investigation has established a prima facie case of conspiracy and murder against the suspects, Ehizojie Vincent Jeffery and others still at large for the murder of the deceased person, Mrs. Olusola Olusoga and Mr. Tunji Omikunle. The CCTV footage available to the Police, clearly showed the role played by each of the participants in the crime”.
“Suspects so far arrested will be charged to court for murder while efforts are on top gear to arrest other suspects still at large” Edgal concluded.