Police arrest suspect over murder of hotelier

Chioma Joseph, Lagos

A suspect who was arrested in connection with the murder of a Lagos hotelier, Olusola Olusoga, has said he and four other conspirators had murdered the deceased because she was miserly. The suspect, Ehizojie Vincent and his gang, all staff of Etashol Hotel and Suites had murdered Olusoga and her manager, Tunji Omikunle. The suspect who is a staff of Etashol Hotel and Suites, owned by the deceased, perpetrated the act in company of Henry Lolo, Okechi Ezi and two contract staff identified as Dubai and Dangote. According to the suspect who was arrested in Port-Harcourt, they had planned to murder the 56 years old hotelier because she was miserly. The Police Commissioner, CP Imohimi Edgal who paraded the suspect during a press briefing on Monday, said the suspect had robbed the deceased of N50,000, Jewelleries and other personal effects. Edgal said, “The fact of the case was that on January 25, 2019, at about 3am, the Managing Director/CEO of Etashol Hotels and Suites, Olusoga and her Business Manager, Omikunle were murdered in the said Etashol Hotel situated in Ojodu area of the State. “The plan to rob the deceased business woman was hatched by three staff of the hotel and two contract staff. According to Vincent, a principal suspect that was arrested in Port-Harcourt where he had gone 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 miserly. “They therefore agreed that she must be robbed of her hard earned local and foreign currency being a London returnee. In order to have a hitch-free operation, they agreed that Lolo, currently at large, must prepare a fast food called ‘Indomie’, a delicacy loved by all staff members and laced 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, 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 hand and leg. By the time they were through, the woman died. ” Edgal further revealed that the suspect and his cohort could not make away with their lot due to the presence of police patrol team in the area. “The gang stole her money, N50, 000, Jewelleries 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,” he said. The State Police Boss said investigation has established a prima facie case of conspiracy and murder against Vincent and others still at large for the murder of the deceased person. It was also learnt that the CCTV footage available to the Police, clearly showed the role played by each of the participants in the crime. Edgal stated that suspect will be charged to court for murder while efforts are on top gear to arrest other suspects still at large.