Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
Billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans, has denied his confessional statement after his arrest in 2017, saying it was made under duress.
NAN reports that Evans told Justice Adedayo Akintoye of Igbosere High Court, Lagos on Wednesday that he signed the statement to save him from being tortured to death.
Evans said that some sheets of papers were brought for him to sign, adding that some of the papers were blank while other had things written on them.
“When I asked what I was to sign the police officers slapped me and even quenched a cigarette on my hand.
“The officers were beating me and told me that if anything happens to me, no one will know. They hit my head and blood was gushing, the scars are still on my head.
“When I saw how five men, who were paraded with me, were tortured and killed, I agreed to sign the papers with fear of what happened to the other men,” Evans said.
He also said that the contents of the papers he signed were not read to him and that there was no video recording during the statement taking.
Evans gave the details while a trial within a trial was conducted to ascertain whether his statement was taken under duress or not.
He was led in evidence by his counsel, Mr O. I. Ajanuku. The Lagos State counsel, however, said that they have not been served with the address of the defence.
Ajanuku, however, assured the prosecution that they would be served by close of work on Thursday.
Justice Akintoye, after listening to the evidence, adjourned the case until Jan. 30 for continuation of hearing.
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