The Delta State Police Command said that it has one Efe Onoetiyi, who murdered his best friend, Paulinus Okon.
According to the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Abaniwonda S. Olufemi, Paulinus was reported missing on 8/9/2024 by his brother after he went out with his friend Efe Onoitiyi, who is 30 years old.
Olufemi said: “The suspect Efe Onoitiyi who initially denied knowing what happened to Paulinus came to Paulinus’s house to ask his family about Paulinus, he was confronted that the deceased went out with him on that same date which he denied that the deceased did not go out with him.
“On a later date, Efe returned and demanded N500,000 from the deceased’s brother that he would use the money to pay a herbalist who could tell them Paulinus’s whereabouts. Efe again came and informed the family that Paulinus was kidnapped and he collected a ransom of about N20,715,000 from the deceased brother claiming that he was in touch with the kidnappers.
“When it became obvious that Efe had something to hide, he was arrested and the case was transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department State Headquarters Asaba.
“On 28th November 2024, I directed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Ekpan to take over the case and ensure that a discrete investigation was carried out to fish out those responsible as the main suspect Efe was not yielding.
“The DPO Ekpan carried out an intelligence-led investigation that indicted one Okeimute Gaga, 48. Okeimute Gaga upon his arrest opened up and confessed that he could no longer hide what happened.
“Okeimute Gaga narrated how Efe brought Paulinus to the Orere River in Otokutu and requested that they kill him. The suspect further stated that on the 8th of September 2024 he, Efe and Sunday Ikpeba, and a 30-year-old herbalist known as Lawrence Joseph tied Paulinus Okon to a stake at night close to Orere River and beheaded him alive.
“His body was thrown into the River while the herbalist took the head of Paulinus and buried him at his shrine in Otokutu. The DPO Ekpan Police station led police operatives to the shrine in Otokutu where the skull of Paulinus was exhumed and recovered.”
The Police boss disclosed that during interrogation, Efe was asked why he killed his friend Paulinus, he replied that he saw a building for sale at a cost of N30,000,000 which he advertised to the deceased and the deceased paid him N30,000,000 in three instalments, but instead of buying the house, he diverted the money for his personal use, bought two lands and was building a duplex for himself.
“He further stated that he did not know how to explain to the deceased that he had used his money hence he decided that killing him would save him the trouble. Efe and the three other suspects are in custody,” said Olufemi.
