APC chieftain sues IGP, widow over alleged culpability in death of hotel manager

Valentine Oyemike, the owner of Valchi VFK Oriental Service Ltd, has sued the inspector-general of police over alleged human rights violations in connection with an investigation into the death of Fidelis Osaghae. 

Oyemike filed the fundamental human rights suit on behalf of himself and his employees — Owiku Tracy and Cyprian Saamoyal.

Respondents listed in the suit are Kayode Egbetokun, inspector general of police (IGP); deputy IGP, force criminal investigation department (CID) Abuja; Adelogba Femi, assistant superintendent of police; Esther Osaghae, wife of the deceased.

Oyemike was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 house of assembly election in Delta state.

Osaghae, a 33-year-old man, was the branch manager of a fast food and bar outlet owned by Oyemike in the Auchi area of Edo.

BACKGROUND

Osaghae died on July 29, 2024 in Oyemike’s restaurant.

Esther said on the day he passed away, her husband, a father of one, left home for his workplace around 2:30am and told her not to lock the door as he would return shortly.

The deceased’s wife said when she woke up at 5am and realised that her husband had not returned, she attempted to contact him but received no response.

Esther said when she called her husband’s office, Tracy, a supervisor, answered the call, and told her that “the situation was under control”.

Afterwards, Tracy stopped responding to the calls.

The deceased’s wife said around 6am, Oyemike called her to come to Favour Hospital, Afasho.

At the hospital, she was taken to the mortuary to see her husband’s corpse.

Esther said Oyemike told her that her husband drank Sniper — a chemical substance — in the office.

“Oyemike said Fidelis killed himself by drinking Sniper at the office. How’s that even possible? Our marriage is just a year old, and we have a two-month-old baby. He is not unhappy,” she said.

“I am not saying Oyemike killed my husband. I am saying that my husband died at his place of work and has marks on his body. I want to know the truth about his death.”

In an affidavit sworn at the federal high court in Abuja, Oyemike claimed Osaghae was confirmed dead at the hospital as a result of the “poisonous substance he took”.

Some human rights organisations, including Akin Fadeyi Foundation (AFF), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, and Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) have petitioned the IGP to demand the release of the probe report.

THE SUIT

In the suit filed at the federal high court in Abuja, Oyemike asked the court to restrain the respondents from further harassing and detaining him and his workers “for reasons of suspicion or on account of any purported investigation”.

The APC chieftain said the rejection of the counter petition and autopsy report by the police ASP is “illegal and devoid of fair hearing”.

“AN ORDER enforcing the Applicant rights to dignity of human person, personal liberty, freedom of movement and private and family life on the instant subject matter and by directing to order,” part of the court documents reads.

“AN ORDER of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st 2nd 3rd & 4th Respondent from further harassing, detaining or intimidating the Applicant unlawfully, whether for reasons of suspicion or on account of any purported investigation with the respect to the allegations wherewith they are detained by the Respondent in breach of their fundamental rights to personal liberty, dignity of human per on, freedom of movement, private and family life, as enshrined under Sections 34(1), 35(1), (4)&(5), 37 & 41(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

“A DECLARATION that the act of rejecting both counter petition and the autopsy report by the 3rd respondent is devoid of fair hearing and constitutional breach as such the entire process of investigation conducted by the 3rd respondent is illegal and interference with the constitutional right of the applicants.

“AN ORDER OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT compelling the 3rd and 4th Respondent to tender public apology to the Applicants in two (2) National Daily Newspapers, for the violation of the Applicant fundamental rights enshrined under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

“AN ORDER OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT compelling the 3rd and 4th Respondents jointly or severally to pay the Applicant the sum of N1.000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) only as general damages and compensation for the violation of their rights enshrined under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).”

According to Oyemike, the autopsy report showed that the deceased took a poisonous substance.

However, human rights groups had raised concerns over the alleged inconsistencies in the autopsy report.

The groups had questioned why the report failed to explain dark patches on Osaghae’s chest, possible signs of restraint, or the source of bloodstains on his trousers.