Edo: Widow asks IGP to investigate husband’s mysterious death at workplace

Mrs. Esther Fidelis Osaghae, whose husband, the late Mr. Fidelis Osaghae, allegedly died under questionable circumstances at his workplace in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of ​​Edo State, has asked the Inspector General of Police to launch an investigation into her husband’s death.

As reported by DAILY POST, Mrs Fidelis Osaghae alleges in the petition that the Auchi Police Headquarters covered up her husband’s death.

The widow claimed that her husband had died under questionable circumstances

The petition was submitted on her behalf by the civil society organization Akin Faadeyi Foundation.

According to them, the deceased, Mr Fidelis Osaghae, was until his mysterious death an employee of Mr Oyemike Valentine who runs a hotel, restaurant and recreation centre.

She claimed that her husband died under questionable circumstances while working with his boss.

According to the petition, on July 28, 2024, at about 1pm, the deceased (her husband) proceeded to work at Va Lchi Fast Food and Bar, opposite Mechanic Site Angle 90, Auchi Edo State.

“The deceased, in the early hours of July 29, while at work, video-called his wife at around 1:30 am to inform her that he was still at work, as he usually does when he returns home late.

“On that fateful day, the deceased returned home at 2:30 a.m. and informed his wife that his boss, Mr. Valentine, had told him to bring “something” to work and he had rushed back to the office at around 2:30 a.m. promising to be back soon.

“When she called the deceased at around 5am as he had not yet returned home, she could not reach him and decided to contact a certain Tracey who is also a supervisor in the same establishment where the deceased works. She said everything was under control.

“At about 6am, she received a call from her late boss, Mr Valentine, telling her to come to Favour Hospital, Afashio and assuring her that her husband was fine.

“Since she was a nursing mother, she asked her older sister to go to the hospital to find out what was going on. But when she got there, she (her sister) found her husband's lifeless body in Mr. Valentine's car.

“The hospital had rejected Mr. Fidelis on the grounds that he had been admitted dead. However, upon examination, they found strange marks and injuries on the body, which may have been the result of the torture and pain inflicted on him before his death,” the petition states.

The widow, who said the request had become necessary, claimed that the deceased had been in the care of his boss until his death.

She suspected that Mr Valentine had been at large since the incident, while the DPO of Auchi Division, where the incident occurred, had shown no willingness to take the necessary steps to solve the suspicious murder.

“Since the incident on July 29, the police have only invited those involved without making any arrests.”

“Instead, the police quickly drew conclusions and cleared Mr. Valentine of being a prime suspect in Mr. Fidelis' murder,” she added.

She noted that they had lost confidence in the police in Auchi but urged the IGP to take over the investigation as they were still convinced that the Nigeria Police could help the widow get justice for her husband's death.

When contacted, Mr Valentine did not answer calls to his phone.

However, when reached, the Edo State Police Spokesperson, SP Moses Yamu, said the matter was under investigation.