The Nigeria police force in Delta state has arrested Efe Onoetiyi for allegedly killing his best friend Paulinus Okon after collecting N50 million from him
Speaking on Monday while parading Onoetiyi, Abaniwonda Olufemi, the Delta state commissioner of police, said the suspect colluded with three others to kill Okon.
The other suspects are Okeimute Gaga, Lawrence Joseph, and Sunday Ikpeba.
Olufemi said Onoetiyi confessed that he killed Okon after spending the N30 million that the deceased gave him to buy a house for him.
The Delta CP said the suspect advertised a N30 million house for his late friend, who paid for the property in three instalments.
However, Onoetiyi spent the money to purchase a plot of land and a car for himself.
Olufemi said when the suspect was asked by the late Okon’s family members about his whereabouts, he denied that they both went out together.
The police commissioner said the suspect collected N500,000 from the deceased’s family to pay an herbalist, who could reveal the whereabouts of his missing friend.
Olufemi said the suspect later informed the deceased’s family that his friend was kidnapped while his abductors were demanding a N20 million ransom.
Olufemi said: “I welcome you to this briefing, which is particularly painful.
“It involves the murder of one Paulinus Okon by his bosom friend, one Efe Onoetiyi.
“Paulinus was reported missing on September 8, 2024, by his brother after he went out with his friend, Efe Onoitiyi, 30.
“The suspect, Efe Onoitiyi, who initially denied knowing what happened to Paulinus, came to the victim’s house to ask his family about him.
“He was confronted that the deceased went out with him on that same date, and he denied that the deceased did not go out with him.
“On a later date, Efe came back and demanded N500,000 from the deceased’s brother that he would use the money to pay a herbalist who could tell them Paulinus’s whereabouts.
“Efe again came and informed the family that Paulinus was kidnapped and he collected a ransom of about N20,715,000 from the deceased’s brother, claiming that he was in touch with the kidnappers.
“When it became obvious that Efe had something to hide, he was arrested and the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department State Headquarters, Asaba.
“On November 28, 2024, I directed the DPO (Divisional Police Officer), Ekpan to take over the case and ensure that a discrete investigation was carried out to fish out those responsible as the main suspect, Efe, was not yielding.
“The DPO, Ekpan carried out an intelligence-led investigation that indicted one Okeimute Gaga, 48.
“Upon his arrest, Okeimute Gaga opened up and confessed that he could no longer hide what happened.
“Okeimute Gaga narrated how Efe brought Paulinus to Orere River in Otokutu and requested that they kill him.
“The suspect further stated that on September 8, 2024, himself, Efe and Sunday Ikpeba, and a 30-year-old herbalist, Lawrence Joseph, tied Paulinus Okon to a stake at night close to Orere River and beheaded him.
“His body was thrown into the River while the herbalist took his head and buried it at his shrine in Otokutu.
“The DPO, Ekpan Police Station led operatives to the shrine in Otokutu where the skull of Paulinus was exhumed and recovered.
When asked why he killed Okon, Olufemi said Efe told his interrogators it had to do with money.
He said: “Efe stated that he saw a building for sale at N30 million, which he advertised to the deceased and the deceased paid N30 million in three instalments, but instead of buying the house, he diverted the money for his personal use, bought two lands and was building a duplex for himself.
“He further stated that he did not know how to explain to the deceased that he had used his money, hence he decided that killing him would save him the trouble.
“Efe and the three other suspects are in custody.”
The suspects all confessed to the crime.
They said the head of Okon was sacrificed to the gods of the community.
