End of road for suspected criminals

TWO house-helps who allegedly poisoned their boss’s food with a plan to rob him were among the five suspected criminals paraded by the Lagos State Police Command yesterday.

Other suspects paraded were three suspected political thugs who allegedly killed two persons returning from a party in Ajah area of Lagos.

The two house-helps were arrested by the Command following a petition written by one Omowunmi Fadojutimi, female, resident of Lekki Phase I alleging conspiracy and attempted murder against the two suspects Victor Hounkpe and David Amusu.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, Kayode Aderanti, immediately ordered an in-depth investigation through the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti.

The petitioner alleged that she engaged the services of Victor Hounkpe as a domestic cook through one David Amusu, who was also her former cook.

According to Aderanti: “The petitioner further alleged that on April 22, 2015 at about 1700hrs, Victor Hounkpe (the cook) was instructed to prepare vegetable soup for dinner with this directive and every member of the household ate the dinner as served. After the dinner, the husband of the complainant, Mr. Nwogu Chinaka, developed severe stomach ache and collapsed.”

“The complainant immediately rushed the husband to a nearby hospital amidst her own severe pain, having eaten the meal, too. She also became unconscious at the gate of the hospital and both husband and wife were admitted for medical attention. Shortly after, two of the security guards of the complainant, who also participated in the dinner, were brought in unconscious to the same hospital. This brings the total number of victims to four.”

“It was discovered that shortly after serving the dinner, the cook, Victor Hounkpe, sneaked out of the house.

Efforts to arrest him proved abortive until he was eventually arrested through diligent investigation and deployment of advanced technology.”

“ Hounkpe during interrogation confessed that he put some substance in the food served and further confessed that David Amusu, the former cook who recommended him to the complainant, actually gave him the substance and directed that he put it in the meal.”

“During further interrogation, Victor Hounkpe admitted that their intention was to gain unfettered access into the inner rooms of the household and rob the complainant, after they must have passed out after meal.

According to him, he was promised a part of the loot that would have been gotten from the robbery while his role was to open the compound for David Amusu and his gang to gain access and operate.”

Amusu confessed to the crime before newsmen and admitted that he recommended Hounkpe to the complainant and conspired with him two weeks after his engagement to infuse sleeping pills into their meal, so that they will pass out, which would have given them unfettered access into the compound with the assistance of Victor to rob them of their valuables.

“Unfortunately, the evil plans of these deadly traitors could not materialize as they could not gain access into the compound, as the complainant had locked the access doors inwards before she became unconscious. It is imperative to restate our earlier advice that families should avail themselves of the services of the Command in profiling domestic assistance before employing them. It becomes more important when viewed against the background of the disturbing trend where domestic assistants betray the trust inherent in their appointments to stab innocent families in the back,” Aderanti said.

Also owing to the incessant skirmishes on the Island and its environs, Aderanti ordered a comprehensive raid of all dark spots.

During the raid, Adebayo Dipo, Alade Ogbulu and Kofi Olumide were arrested. The suspects have confessed to series of crimes, banditry and killings on the Island including the killing of two victims returning from a wedding ceremony. They also confessed to be members of one “Abuja Gang” that has been terrorising the Island. Their leader, one Abuja, is on the run.

One pump action rifle with Serial No. P. 960667, one single barrel rifle, four rounds of cartridges, two cutlasses and one battle-axe were recovered from the suspects.

The post End of road for suspected criminals appeared first on The Guardian Nigeria.