Family asks police to investigate hotel manager's death

The family of Fidelis Osaghae, a hotel manager and employee of Va Lchi Fast Food and Bar, a hotel, restaurant and leisure centre owned by Oyemike Valentine, has asked the police to investigate the circumstances of his death while at work on July 29, 2024.

In a letter dated August 5 to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), written on behalf of the widow, Esther Fidelis Osaghae, by the Akin Fadeyi Foundation (AFF), the family called on the police to clarify how a healthy man could die in the line of duty under questionable circumstances with marks on his body.

AFF, a non-profit civil society organisation that uses communications and technology to fight corruption, social injustice including cyberbullying, internet fraud and other related areas while promoting integrity, transparency and accountability in Nigeria, stated in its letter: “On July 28, 2024, the deceased went to work at Va Lchi Fast Food and Bar, opposite M Mechanic Site Angle 90, Auchi Edo State at about 1pm.

“While at work in the early hours of Monday, July 29, 2024, he video-called his wife Esther Fidelis at around 1:30 a.m. It was the deceased's usual practice to video-call his wife whenever he was late returning home.

“The deceased ran into the house at 2:30 a.m. on July 29, 2024 and told our client that his boss, Mr. Valentine, had told him to bring “something” to work. The deceased then ran back to work at around 2:30 a.m. and told our client, “I'll be back soon.”

It further states that he immediately ran out of the house to meet Mr. Oyemike Valentine and at about 3am, he video called his wife while he was out for his boss, Mr. Valentine. And at about 5am on July 29, 2024, his wife started calling the deceased as he had not yet returned home but she could not reach him.

She became “concerned and decided to contact a certain Tracey, who is also a supervisor in the same establishment where the deceased works. Tracey, the supervisor, assured her that “everything was under control” and ended the call, after which she called again to find out what was going on at the deceased's workplace. Unfortunately, despite several attempts to reach Tracey, she was unable to reach her or her husband.

“At about 6am, she received a call from Mr. Oyemike Valentine, the late boss, telling her to come to Favour Hospital, Afasho, Edo State. Since she was a nursing mother, her elder sister decided to go to the hospital while she stayed at home with her baby. The sister met the body of Mr. Fidelis in the car of Mr. Oyemike Valentine, the late boss.

“The hospital had rejected the body of Mr. Fidelis because, according to them, he was admitted dead. On examination, they noticed strange marks and injuries on the body of the deceased which may have been due to the torture and pain inflicted on the deceased before his death. Based on the above information, we firmly believe that Mr. Fidelis was in the care of Mr. Oyemike Valentine until his death,” AFF said.

It added: “Based on this development, it is clear to us that the events surrounding the death of Mr. Fidelis are suspicious and require a thorough investigation. We call on the Deputy Inspector General of Police to look into this matter and bring it to a just conclusion,” it added.

When the Nigerian Tribune sought information on the status of the case, the Edo Police Command Press Secretary, SP Joel Yamu, said: “The matter has been referred to the State CID for further investigation. The outcome will be announced once the investigation is completed.”

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