Thread by @akinfadeyi1

TRAGIC NEWS
I am deeply saddened to announce a case we received on Tuesday, 1st August on the FlagIt App, an app created by the Akin Fadeyi Foundation, for reporting official corruption in Nigeria. We were briefed by Mrs. Esther Osaghae, that her Husband, Mr. Fidelis Osaghae. #JusticeforFidelis

has died under suspicious circumstances. On our further interaction, Esther Osaghae said her Husband was an employee of Mr. Oyemike Valentine, who runs a VALCHI Hotel, Restaurant, and Recreational center. She said her Husband returned home from work at 2.30am #JusticeforFidelis

and had to dash back to work at that dark night because, his “Boss told him to bring something”. He kept an Okada (Motorbike) waiting and told the wife, he was rushing back and would soon be back…at 2.30am! He had earlier worked from 1pm to that time 2.30am #JusticeforFidelis

From 5am when her Husband was not back, Esther began to call the Husband but she was unable to reach him. The wife became distressed and decided to call one Tracey, who is a supervisor at the same facility where the deceased worked. #JusticeforFidelis

Tracey was alleged to have assured the wife that “everything is under control” and ended the call on her. At about 6am, our client finally received a call from Mr. Oyemike Valentine, the deceased’s boss, who told her to come to Favour Hospital, Afasho, Edo State. #JusticeforFidelis

Esther’s Sister was with her at the time and offered to go to the hospital in place of Esther, considering her suckling baby. At the hospital, Esther’s sister met the dead body of Fidelis in the car of Mr. Oyemike Valentine, the deceased’s boss. She said #JusticeforFidelis

the hospital did not take the body because he was BID. This was how Esther Osaghae had to go herself to identify the body of her husband and noticed strange large black patch from chest to neck and dry blood stain on the chest of the deceased. Fidelis’ Trouser #JusticeforFidelis

was also torn and we don’t understand why they tore his trousers revealing his boxers. According to the bereaved wife, the DPO of the Auchi division, Edo State, despite the visible injury on the body of the deceased told her and her Sister that he #JusticeforFidelis

suspects this wife and her elder sister as the murderers of Fidelis!He said Valentine Oyemike, Fidelis Boss who brought him dead to the hospital had already briefed him that Fidelis “committed suicide by drinking sniper” and based on this, he believes Oyemike. #JusticeforFidelis

Our worry is, why did he have to come back to the office before drinking sniper to kill himself when he already got home at 2.30am? Why did he commit suicide and the Police were not invited to the scene but the Boss ferried a dead staff in his own vehicle? #JusticeforFidelis

Why did the DPO embrace just one account of suspicious homicide without investigation? Same DPO said it was Fidelis father who declined investigation. Fidelis father told us he gave up asking for investigation because the DPO #JusticeforFidelis

made every move to discourage him and actually showed him how he had written “suicide” on the case file of his son. He said since close to two weeks of this incidence, the DPO made no arrest and was only providing cover for Valchi Food Boss, Valentine Oyemike. #JusticeforFidelis

Let us be clear, we are not accusing Valentine Oyemike of murder. This is not our job and we believe there is presumption of innocence until the processes of lawful exercise prove otherwise. Nonetheless, based on the background above, it is clear to us #JusticeforFidelis

Fidelis Osaghae death is very suspicious and the handling of the matter by the DPO, Auchi Division has been completely mistrustful, if not irresponsible. There are so many bugging questions begging for answers, but a police division where a DPO is quick to jump #JusticeforFidelis

in the defence of presumable suspects and hounding the bereaved wife and family should not have a place in our law enforcement processes. With the deceased father saying “the DPO was not showing any willingness to investigate the matter”, @AFFoundationng #JusticeforFidelis

will bear the expenses for the autopsy and other relevant processes that unravels the mystery behind his son’s death. We have started supporting the father and we seek the support of anyone or institutions who may wish contribute to our efforts in this regard. #JusticeforFidelis

It seems the DPO at Auchi Division is exploiting the lack of means or social capital of Fidelis parents and is railroading them into “acceptance of fate” when really his underlying motive was to shield the suspect of this heinous crime of suspicious homicide. #JusticeforFidelis

This family have expressed lack of confidence in Edo Command’s capacity to handle this matter impartially and have expressed fear for their lives. This was because even on Tuesday, DPO reiterated that they’re the suspects. We have therefore petitioned the IGP. #JusticeforFidelis

We urge the Nigerian Police to kindly do their job, and reassure this poor family that they don’t need to be resourced with “connections” in Nigeria to be able to access an unencumbered path to justice. #JusticeforFidelis

We hold no judgement as yet over this matter and this explains why we have handed our petition to the Inspector General of Police which has been acknowledged. There must be #JusticeforFidelis.

Late Fidelis in Valentine Oyemike’s vehicle. He allegedly brought Fidelis dead body to the hospital firm his Valchi Foods workplace.

Fidelis body with dark patches and what looks like blood on his chest to neck is to stomach. Was he tortured to death and forced to gulp sniper?

Late Fidelis trouser was torn. Did he kill himself and then tore his own trouser or was he dragged?