The life of a 300-level student of Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State, Morrison Akinbule, has been allegedly brought to a tragic end in a circumstance involving his lover, identified simply as Chidinma.
Chidinma has been arrested and is being detained at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, for Akinbule’s death, which occurred on Sunday.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the duo started a romantic relationship three years ago and had a child together. They did not marry.
It was gathered that Chidinma had visited Akinbule at his mother’s house in the Gbagada area of the state around 9pm on Saturday to pass the night.
It was said they had a misunderstanding at night which resulted in a fight, during which Chidinma allegedly hit Akinbule’s head on the wall.
Akinbule’s elder sister, who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone on Wednesday, said Chidinma had yet to disclose what caused the argument which led to her brother’s death.
The sister, who did not give her name, said the family was being cautious in discussing the incident with “strangers” for security reasons.
She said, “The lady has been arrested and she is in Panti (SCIID). The incident happened in our mother’s house, not on the (Caleb University) campus. She came around to visit him. We have not ascertained what led to the argument. We have been trying to find out, but she is not saying the truth.
“They had been together for about three years and they have a kid. She is a babymama. The boy is one year and six months old. That was the major thing that bound them together.
“We are ready to follow the case to a logical conclusion. We have been asking her what led to his death because there is no injury on his body.”
The sister, however, declined replies to further inquiries made by PUNCH Metro on the matter, saying “this is a critical period for us and we are being very careful. That is all I can tell you for now (she cuts the call).”
Meanwhile, in a post we shared yesterday, one Mia Seren, who claimed to be Akinbule’s neighbour, said a piece of cloth was tied to the deceased’s neck when he was brought out from the apartment.
Seren said he was rushed to a hospital, where he was confirmed dead by doctors on arrival.
“He went for a party; came back around 9pm. Chidinma was not home, so he called her to ask her where she was. They planned to meet at one place. When they came back, they were with fast foods and they went to their room.
“About 30 minutes later, we heard them fighting in the room and somebody was hitting someone’s head on the wall. Chidinma did not open the door. Later we did not hear their voices.
“About 30 minutes later, she opened the door and Morrison (Akinbule) was seen on the floor.
“He was unconscious and he had an injury on his head, and had a cloth tied to his neck. We rushed him to a hospital; then they (doctors) said he was gone,” the post read in part.
A friend of the deceased, Gabriel Adewunmi, paid a tribute to him on Facebook, describing him as a loving and caring man, whose dreams had been shattered.
Adewunmi wrote, “I want you to know that I think of you every day. I want you to know that I miss you more than anything and I would give anything to talk to you one last time. I still remember the last time that I saw you on Sunday, September 24. You were leaving for a party and I begged you not to leave.
“You started cracking dry jokes…. I knew I would miss you… I knew it would be a while until I saw you again…yesterday morning (Monday), our friend, Edet, told me you died on Sunday night.
“I still can’t believe this. (I have) been crying since. I can’t even get a good sleep without thinking about you…. You had plans; you told me you wanted (to be) the youngest President in Nigeria.
“Looking back now, I wish I spent more time with you, shared more stories with you, and made more memories. But death took you from us…you were our own Diego Costa; the best FIFA player in Gbagada.
“Thank you for being a brother, a best friend and for being the most influential person I’ve ever met; for accepting and loving everyone, and for being someone that impacted the lives of so many. You will never be forgotten. I will always love you, bro. Goodnight, Morrison Akinbule.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, promised to call our correspondent for details of police investigation into the incident, but he had yet to do so as of press time.