The police in Lagos have commenced
investigations into the death of a 67-year-old cleric, Monday Ojajuni, who was
allegedly killed by a woman, Temidayo Oladele, in front of his church in Mile
12.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the deceased, who was the Superintendent
Evangelist of Celestial Church of God, Mile 12, died during a confrontation
with Oladele over the latter’s decision to scoop some sand in front of his
church.
The 19-year-old daughter of the
deceased, Oluwaseun, said she witnessed the incident on July 19, 2013.
She said, “The woman (Oladele) came
to pack sand in front of the church and another cleric, Assistant
Superintendent Evangelist Samuel Oteghene, told her not to pack the sand. When
my father arrived at the scene, Oteghene went inside.
“But the woman rebuffed all
entreaties not to pack the sand, instead, she turned violent and tore my
father’s robe.
“My father then told her that she
would run mad within seven days. When she heard this, she pushed my father and
he fell, hitting hit his head on the ground and died. I reported the matter at
Mile 12 Police Post. From there it was transferred to Ketu Police Station.”
PUNCH Metro learnt that members of the church had earlier prayed for Monday
with the hope that he would wake up, but to no avail.
It was learnt it was after a medical
doctor confirmed Monday’s death that it dawned on them that he was beyond
redemption.
Police sources said Ketu Police
Division had arrested Oladele, while the case had also been transferred to the
State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.
At the SCID, the suspect, who claimed
to be 65 years, said she did not kill the cleric. She explained that he died
during a struggle with her.
She said, “Around 11.30am on Friday,
I went with a shovel to the front of the church which is behind my house to
pack some sand. I was challenged by members of the church.
“The pastor (Monday) started
struggling for the shovel with me. The shovel tore his clothes. He cursed me,
saying that I would die within the next seven days. We struggled until he fell
to the ground and I left. I did not injure him and I did not know that he was
dead until later.”
Our correspondent, who visited
Monday’s family home on Omobanta Street, Mile 12, observed as sympathisers
condole with the family.
A banner, hanging in front of the
house, displayed the picture of the deceased. The banner read, ‘Monday Elijah
Ojajuni, 1947-2013, Rest in Peace’
The eldest son of the deceased,
Moses, described his father as an easy-going man.
He said, “My father was fasting
on that day, but he went to the church to conduct a programme. Who would have
known that that was the last time we would see him?”
He said his father was survived by 11
children and two wives, many of whom were still dependent on him.
“My father was a retired civil servant.
He worked at the Lagos State Ministry of Works for many years. He had four sons
and seven daughters,” he said.
He added that the suspect’s account
of what happened on the day was not correct.
He said, “The woman had earlier
come to pack sand from the front of our church prior to my father’s death and
she had been warned not to come back.
“After my father confronted her, he
attempted to go back into the church, but she pulled him by the cape. Because
it rained on that day, the sand was slippery, causing him to hit his head
against the ground.”
Our correspondent, who also visited
the church, observed a condolence register in front of the church gate.
The members, however, refused to talk
to our correspondent, saying they had left everything to God.
When contacted on the telephone, the
Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Damasus Ozoani, confirmed Oladele’s
arrest.
He said the matter was being
investigated at the Homicide Department of the SCID
Tags
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May his soul rest in peace! We should all know that nothing good will ever come out trouble and mind how we use the power that we think that God has for His own glory alone!
ReplyDeleteCan so called pastor marry two Wives? Unbelieveable. May his soul rest in peace
ReplyDeleteRe u here 2 judge or see 2 d matter,what concerns u if he married 2 wives.God has say over that not human beign like u.
ReplyDeleteI taya for anonymous 4:21pm oh
DeleteWell I think that woman must be devish person,u live behide a church and yet u still left ur house to pack sand from someone elses house,,,na even infront,,,santan,,,,
ReplyDeleteNothing good comes out from a troublesome woman. The pastor should ve known better and avoided her by reporting d woman to her family to be cautioned, or even threaten her with d police. May his soul rest in peace.
ReplyDeleted old woman is a nasty human being.very wicked and nasty.hav known her for a very long time.a big lesson indeed for the killer woman.may d woman rust and die in jail.
ReplyDeletegaga oja,gud nite and rip
baba oja gud nite and rip.
ReplyDeletebaba oja instead of gaga oja.