Murdered Osun Cleric’s Family Alleges Plot To Bury Case, Calls For IG’s Intervention

THE family of the late pastor in charge of Celestial Church of Christ, Grace of Comfort Parish, Ilode, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Morris Fadehan, who was recently murdered in the church has alleged that some ‘powerful people’ were making attempt to subvert justice in the case.  

The family called for the intervention of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure that all those involved in Fadehan’s death are apprehended and prosecuted.

It would be recalled that the 65-year-old Fadehan was allegedly murdered in the premises of the church by his assistant, Lekan Ogundipe, on February 26.

The suspect was arrested and detained by the police after the incident.

The eldest child of the late clergy, Elizabeth Fadehan, while addressing journalists in Osogbo, on Tuesday, said family members of the deceased have been receiving calls from some people, who were demanding for discontinuation of the case. 

According to her, the callers have been demanding that the deceased’s family should drop the case against Ogundipe, the prime suspect.

Elizabeth Fadehan, 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 authority to ensure that thorough investigation was conducted to expose other people involved in the killing of his father.

She said some well-meaning people in the state had shown interest in the matter, expressing concern that some ‘powerful individuals might be behind the prime suspect’.

The grieving daughter 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.”