Death in a swimming pool

Family suspects foul play in the death of 22-year-old, seeks thorough investigation of incident

HE was 22 years old and a domestic worker in Ogudu GRA, Lagos. Onyeka Kingsley Raphael  was found dead in the swimming of his boss, one Mr. Tunde Williams, on Babatunde Asimi Street, Ogudu GRA.

His death is already raising dust as family members strongly suspect foul play and want police to unravel the mystery behind the death.

The deceased, an indigene of Umunede in Ika Local Council of Delta State, was said to have been found dead last Saturday and his body lying on the floor of the swimming pool with his stomach showing no sign of protrusion, suggesting that he did drown.

An eye witness who saw the body when it was removed from the swimming pool by police men from Ogudu Police Station revealed that there were no injuries either on the head or other parts of the body except a twisted neck, suggesting that he might have been strangled by yet to be identified assailants whose aim remains mysterious until police investigations are concluded.

More so, the police and those who raced to the scene saw the food Onyeka had prepared for himself and placed on the table with his cap.

According to family sources, the young man had gone to live with the Tunde Williams family in March in their Ogudu GRA residence following an arrangement for him to be employed as a domestic worker.

Williams, a retired chartered accountant, is married to two ladies, one of whom reportedly runs a company that produces toiletries.

It was gathered that the relationship between the Williams’ family and Onyeka’s elder sister and brother dates back to a few years ago as all of them were worshipping at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Ogudu.

Onyeka’s elder sister, Mrs. Angela Moses, who lost her husband a few years ago, was said to be close to Tunde Williams’ first wife, who happens to be of Igbo extraction while the second wife is Yoruba.

The Igbo wife, according to investigations, lives in the same Ogudu residence with her husband while the Yoruba wife resides in one of their buildings elsewhere.

The deceased, who completed his secondary school education in Warri, Delta State had come to live with his sister, one Mrs. Moses, after the death of her husband and as he searched endlessly for job, an opportunity came for him to work with the Williams pending when he would secure admission to higher institution as he was said to be brilliant.

Though, there is no autopsy report yet, but Onyeka’s family members strongly suspect that his death must have been master-minded by some unseen hands given the manner his boss, Williams, allegedly conducted himself when members of the deceased family rushed to the scene as soon as information got to them about the ugly incident.

It was gathered that when Mrs. Moses and her other relations got to Williams’ residence where the incident occurred, some policemen were already there and asked some questions from the security man who was reportedly at home when the incident occurred.

According to investigation, two men were said to have come in a vehicle to see Williams that same day but were told he was not at home and the men reportedly insisted on going into his office as they were there to do some assignment.

The two men allegedly went in and left after some minutes before the security man discovered that Onyeka was dead in the swimming pool.

While the first wife was said to have travelled outside the country, the second who lives elsewhere, came visiting soon after the incident.

According to sources, efforts of the police to question the security man more about what he knew were frustrated by Williams who was not happy that police men were asking many questions.

Sources at the scene revealed that Williams’ attitude did not give any feeling about the young man’s death as he allegedly brooded over some amount of money, about N50,000 he was said to have given to the deceased to pay for an unknown examination.

Onyeka’s family sources however denied knowledge of any N50,000 given to him and for what examination.

They recalled that last month, there was a misunderstanding between Onyeka and his boss, which almost necessitated the termination of his appointment.

He was said to have opted to leave the job for certain undisclosed reasons, but his elder sister had prevailed on him to endure the situation, as there was nothing for him to do at present.

The Guardian learnt that Williams was virtually angry with the DPO when he insisted that autopsy should be carried out on the deceased. Because the DPO insisted on following the due process and ensuring justice in the matter, Williams was said to be unhappy with him and refused to provide the money for the autopsy.

Lagos State Police spokesman, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent of police (DSP) who confirmed the incident said it was ‘a case of suspected murder’.

According to Braide, “A case of suspected murder was reported that one Onyeka, a steward to one Mr. Tunde Williams died in a swimming pool in a mysterious circumstance. The owner of the house, where his body was found is not cooperating with the police. The case will be transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, Lagos.”