Abia APC Lawmaker killed in Lagos

An All Progressive Congress (APC) Honourable member Ugochukwu Nwosu, who contested as the party’s candidate for Abia North constituency during the 2015 Abia State House of Assembly election has been murdered in his Lagos residence.

Ugochukwu was said to have been attacked in the early hours of Thursday the 1st of December at his home – No 18 Shakiru Oleko Street, Alasalatu Agric in Ikorodu, where he was stabbed severally by a suspected assassin.

Despite the injuries sustained from the attack, the father of one with the help of his driver managed to overpower the suspected assassin and tired him down. He thereafter gave up the ghost shortly after he was rushed to a private hospital in the area.

The Daily Times gathered that the 41-year-old politician was a First Class graduate of chemical engineering from the University of Port-Harcourt and holds a Masters degree in chemical analysis from Harvard University.

He was also said to be the Chief Executive Officer of Idife Nwosu Investment limited and Business Info Base Business Directory.

His driver, one Obinna narrates the incident: “On the day of the incident, my boss and I were the only one at home. At about 3am, we heard the empty crates of drinks parked in the compound falling. My boss who was still working on his laptop in the living room, decided to go out to check what it was.

“The sound also woke me up and I followed after my boss.  Shortly after, I heard sounds like two people struggling, so I quickly ran out and behold, I saw my boss in a physical brawl with a man and he was bleeding from his hand. Immediately, I joined my boss and we overpowered the intruder, disarmed him and tied him up.

“That was when I noticed my boss was slowly passing out.  I had thought he was only bleeding from his right hand, but didn’t know the intruder had also stabbed him below the abdomen. I immediately drove him to a private hospital but it was already too late as he had lost so much blood. He was confirmed dead by the doctor.

The suspected assassin who was handed over to the Owotu Police Division and later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) identified himself as Dolapo Olajiru.

The suspect claimed he wasn’t an assassin but a member of a five-man robbery gang who has been terrorising residents of Ikorodu. His confession:

“I used to be a conductor but in the last three months,  things have been very rough.  I have not had a vehicle to work with. In the process of waiting, a friend of mine called Ayo introduced me into robbery. We are five in our gang and we usually rob houses within Ikorodu area.  When we rob, we take away phones, money and valuables we can lay our hands on.  We do not have a gun; we only use kitchen knives to scare our victims.

“That night, I was just walking around to identify a house to rob. I saw the Honourable’s house and I scaled the fence into the compound. I landed on some empty crates which also fell. The sound alerted the owner of the house and I heard a door being opened.  I immediate hid myself behind the crates.

“When he came close enough, I jumped on him and we started to fight.  He was quite strong but because I had a knife, I stabbed him on his right hand and he was bleeding seriously.  He held on and tried to take the knife from me but he couldn’t.  I also stabbed him by the waist and it was at this point another man joined in the fight.  They over powered me and tired me up.

“I didn’t have the intention to kill the man or anyone.  No one hired me to go and kill him.  I was only looking for a means to survive the hard times.”  He concluded.

The deceased’s elder brother, Innocent Nwosu spoke to our correspondent on the tragedy.

“Ugochukwu was such a fine gentleman.  He would always consider others before himself; I really don’t know why his life had to be cut short suddenly.  He had a very bright future. This is indeed a terrible loss to my family and the entire Abia State.

“We were even preparing for our fathers 83rd birthday which is supposed to hold on the 29th December 2016 and he was the one piloting the whole arrangement and now he is no more.  I really pray our father survives the shock.”

The Lagos State police spokesperson,  Superintendent of Police Dolapo Badmos confirmed the story.  She said. “I confirmed the case, it’s a case of armed robbery! The command received an emergency call about the robbery, our operatives rushed to the scene,but unfortunately the man has been stabbed. One of the suspects was arrested . Investigation is ongoing and effort is on to arrest the fleeing suspect.”