Lone Assailant Kills Human Rights Lawyer

By Chiemelie Ezeobi
      
Former member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and a member of the editorial board of The Guardian Newspaper, Olakunle Alexander Fadipe SAN, was Thursday killed by a lone assailant in his Lagos residence.

The deceased was stabbed on the neck and armpit after a scuffle with the suspect inside his sitting

room at Harmony Estate, College Road, Ogba.

The suspect had also stabbed the deceased's son, Folarin and his mother-in law before he was apprehended and detained at Olowosokedile Police Station.

Reports said the suspect had demanded for the sum of N500,000 but was offered a lower amount and other personal effects, an offer he turned down and unleashed mayhem.

Although the deceased did not die immediately, he however bled to death having lost so much blood from the knife wounds on his neck and armpit.

Although the police have commenced investigations into the incident, it could not be ascertained if the suspect had been moved to the State Criminal and Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ngozi Braide, who confirmed the incident, said the suspect is still in police custody.
She said, "Yes he was stabbed to death but fortunately the suspect has been arrested and is in police custody now."

Sources at the estate said the assailant confessed that he was sent from Ogun State to attack Fadipe though details of those who sent him were not available at the time of going to press.
He was arrested by fellow residents of the estate after he had attacked the household and in the process, attracted the attention of neighbours who rallied to apprehend him and handed him over to the police.

It is not clear whether it was a robbery case gone sour, but the source said he confessed that he was sent by some people from Abeokuta.
Fadipe has handled some high profile cases even in election tribunals. He is adjudged a brilliant and articulate lawyer and human rights advocate.