A footballer, Patrick
Onyekachukwu who was accused of killing a seven-year-old boy, on Thursday told
an Ikeja High that he unknowingly killed the boy.
The boy
simply identified as Ayuba died on January 12, 2013 in the Abaranje area of
Ikotun.
Onyekachukwu when arrested was accused of luring the boy into his compound, where he allegedly strangled him to death. He denied the allegation and also blamed one Jamiu for the death of the boy.
Onyekachukwu when arrested was accused of luring the boy into his compound, where he allegedly strangled him to death. He denied the allegation and also blamed one Jamiu for the death of the boy.
At
Thursday’s proceedings, Onyekachukwu, however recanted his earlier statement
and confessed that he mistakenly killed the boy. He admitted that he dumped the
body in a soak away to escape the consequences of his action.
He made these confessions during cross-examination by the prosecution lawyer, Mr Akin George.
He made these confessions during cross-examination by the prosecution lawyer, Mr Akin George.
Narrating
to the court, Onyeka said: “I was carrying my young friend on my shoulder and
we were walking towards the door, when we both fell because the floor was
slippery. I tried reviving him by pouring water on him, but he did not wake up.
“I shook
him and tapped him but he was dead. At that point, I didn’t know what to do. I
did the only thing that came to my mind by disposing the body into the
soak-away in our compound.”
When it
was discovered that Ayuba was missing, the neighbours organised a search party
but were unable to locate his whereabouts, until one week later when Onyeka’s
uncle called the deceased parents to come to his house and showed them a ransom
written in Onyeka’s handwriting.
In the
letter, Onyeka had demanded for N5 million as ransom, stating that he kidnapped
Ayuba.
Onyeka was, thereafter, arrested in his uncle’s living room.
Onyeka was, thereafter, arrested in his uncle’s living room.
Investigation
also revealed that Onyeka stangled Ayuba to death, hid his body in a bag and
later disposed it in a nearby soakaway in the estate.
The
suspect further confessed that he lied against Jamiu, whom he claimed to be a
ritualist, stating that he said so because he was scared of what will be done
to him if he told the truth.
“I was
not comfortable seeing the family and the whole neighbourhood searching for him,”
he said, adding that “I did not write any letter to the deceased family, I am
not aware of any letter presented by my uncle.”
Onyeka maintained.
The matter was thereby adjourned till April 18, for continuation of trial.be done to him if he told the truth.
