24th APRIL 2024
The family of late Morris Fadehan, the pastor in charge of Celestial Church of Christ, Grace of Comfort Parish, Ilode, Ile-Ife, Osun State recently murdered in the church has demanded intervention of Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure all those involved in the dastard act are apprehended.
The 65-year-old Fadehan was allegedly murdered on the premises of the church by his assistant, Lekan Ogundipe, on February 26.
After the incident, Ogundipe was arrested and detained by the police.
Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Tuesday on the latest developments regarding the incident, the eldest child of the late clergy, Elizabeth, said family members of the deceased had been receiving calls from some people, demanding that they should drop the case against the suspect.
Elizabeth who also insisted that Ogundipe could not have carried out the killing without the assistance of some yet-to-be-identified people, called on the police authorities to ensure that a thorough investigation was conducted to expose other people who might be involved in the killing of his father.
She also expressed concern over the sudden interest some well-meaning people in the state had shown in the matter, adding that family members of the late Fadehan had been told that some powerful individuals were behind the prime suspect arrested in connection with the killing.
Elizabeth further said, “Though the Nigeria Police Force apprehended one Lekan Ogundipe who we were told confessed to the callous killing of our easy-going father, we believe more needed to be done on it.
“We think that if the police could be determined to intensify their investigation on this broad day killing, more culprits shall be arrested. There have been several misunderstandings between the deceased and Lekan. Anytime this happened, he (Lekan) had many supporters in the church that he always used against the deceased.
“Lekan couldn’t have carried out the dastard act alone on that day without assistance from his co-haters of the deceased in the church. We wish to let the general public know that since the inception of the case, some of us have been receiving several strange calls to drop the case. Threats from different angles are countless, saying that we want to fight the powerful and influential people in society. The sudden interest shown by some who-is-who in Osun State towards the matter caught us by surprise.
“Of a truth, we have nobody except God as this is taking a different dimension now.
“That is why we are calling on the Inspector General of Police to wade into this matter and help the helpless, this case must be thoroughly investigated and no sinner must go unpunished. International Community and reputable Non-Governmental Organisations in Nigeria should, please, speak out for us.”
She lamented that life had been so miserable for the wife and children of Fadehan since his untimely death, noting that there was nobody to cater for them as a father.
Source: The Punch
