A case of Culpable Homicide was reported through
a petition dated 5th January, 2017 to the Inspector General of
Police by Lady Rose Mbata & Co on behalf of Mrs. Philomena Odama of
Old karmo Village, Abuja against one Alhaji Usman Adamu which was referred to
IGP Monitoring unit for discreet investigation.
The complainant who is the mother of the deceased
alleged among other things that her daughter Miss Joy Odama, a level two (2)
student of Department of Mass Communication, Cross River State University of
Technology died mysterious in the flat of Alhaji Usman Adamu
located at Ibro Quarters, karmo, Abuja on 21/12/2016.
She stated that her late daughter, Miss Joy Odama
visited her on holidays from Cross – River State and on the 18th
December, 2016, one Miss Elizabeth Okpata James approached her late daughter
and pleaded with her to escort her to the house of one Alhaji Usman Adamu
together with one other girl named Martha Hassan, who Elizabeth brought to join
them. That she, Philomena Odama (the mother) was later met Alhaji Usman
Adamu who promised to offer her a job with the Nigeria Security and Civil
Defence Corps (NSCDC). Consequently, on 20/12/2016, the said Alhaji Usman Adamu
sent for the deceased, Joy Odama to come and help in taking care of his
house-help who was sick, while he seeks the services of a Medical Doctor.
That she (the
mother) later called the next day to ascertain what was happening to her
daughter but the suspect Alh. Usman I. Adamu pretended not to know Joy Odama (the
deceased).
Subsequently,
on 21/12/2016, she was invited to Karmo Police Division, where she was informed
that the two girls (Joy Odama now deceased and Victoria Ezekiel that
survived) who were in
Alhaji Usman Adamu house the previous day became unconscious and were taken to
Federal Medical Centre, Jabi- Airport Road, where her daughter Joy Odama was
confirmed dead and the other girl regained consciousness.
At the
Federal Medical Center, Jabi Victoria Ezekiel was placed on Oxygen and treated
for conditions which included carbon monoxide poisoning, dehydration, vomiting
and headaches. She was later discharged in the evening;
Preliminary investigation into this case started from
Karmo Police Division in the FCT Police Command. The scene crime was visited by
Police detectives, and the Federal Medical centre Jabi where the deceased was
confirmed dead was also visited. A thorough search of the house of Alhaji
Usman Adamu now in Police detention was carried out and exhibits recovered by
the FCT CIID were taken over by the IGP Monitoring Unit for further
investigation into the matter.
i.
The principal suspect Alh. Usman I. Adamu is the owner of Flat 3, Ibro Quarters
Karimo Abuja, where Joy Odama was found dead in the morning of 21/12/2016
ii.
To ascertain the actual cause of death of Joy Odama, two autopsy examinations
where carried out. The first Autopsy examination conducted by a Pathologist Dr.
Jibrin Paul with National Hospital, Abuja was released to the Police on the 10th
May, 2017 though not conclusive.
iii.
The second Autopsy examination conducted on the corpse of Joy Odama on 9th
June, 2017 by another Pathologist Dr. Wilson Akhinwu was carried out in the
presence of the first pathologist Dr. Jibrin Paul and witnessed by a private
person one Augustine Okechukwu of Basic Rights Enlightenment Foundation at the
same venue where the first autopsy was done at National Hospital, Abuja and was
conclusive.
The first and
the second autopsy reports were accepted as evidence and will be tender in
court along with the case file in the prosecution of the principal suspect Alh.
Usman Ibrahim Adamu.
Though the conclusion and opinion of the pathologist Dr.
Wilson Akhinwu who conducted the second autopsy is that Miss Joy Odama now
deceased died from cabon monoxide poisoning from generator fumes, which was
contributed to by a pre-exiting cardiomyopathy and that no cocaine was found in
her system, the case file will be sent to Federal Director of public
prosecution for legal advice and further action by the Police investigation
Teams.
Consequently,
the Nigeria Police Force implores the family of the deceased to be patience for
justice to prevail. The Force will not allow any compromise that can pervert
the end of justice in the whole process.
The principal suspect is still in Police custody. The
media and members of the public are hereby enjoined to exercise restraint and
join hands with the Nigeria Police Force in ensuring that justice is done at
end of the day in this case.
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