Twenty-four hours after the Managing Director of Lekki Free Trade Zone, LFTZ, Mr. Tajudeen Disu, was murdered at Lekki, scores of sympathisers thronged his home to pay condolence to the wife, Dr. Folashade Disu, his children and other members of the Eletu-Odibo royal family.
Some villagers in neighbouring communities in Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos alleged that Monday’s protest at Okunraiye which led to Disu’s death, was instigated by some leaders of the community which became a ghost town yesterday.This came on a day Magistrate Folashade Botoku of an Ebute-Meta Magistrate’s Court sitting at Oyingbo remanded 17 suspects in prison custody over their alleged involvement in his killing.
Among the early visitors were Chief Remi Makanjuola, former board chairman of Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, Mrs. Derin Disu, former Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Central Business District, CBD, former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in Lagos State, Mrs. Olusola Oworu and the chairman, Lekki Free Zone Development Company, Otunba Olusegun Jawando and others.
Also at the home of the deceased were several imams from Surulere, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, and members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, who prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased.
The widow, Dr. Folashade Disu lamented that her husband was shot in the neck while pacifying residents of the community who, Vanguardgathered, had earlier in the day protested acquisition of their land by investors and Lagos State Government.
“While addressing the community representatives over the issue he was called to address, my husband was shut in his neck from behind,” she explained.
It was learned yesterday that the deceased who was in his late 60s, received a call from residents in the community who asked him to resolve an ongoing protest over the acquisition of the land for the EPZ project.
He had often mediated whenever the residents raised issue against the government and the investors.
While addressing the community representatives, he was reportedly shot from behind and it was gathered that the residents didn’t do the shooting but may have hired a killer to perpetrate the act.
Sources said the deceased was rushed to St. Nicolas Hospital on Lagos Island and was later transferred to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, where the bullet was removed.
He had premonition of death— Brother-in-law
The deceased’s in-law, Pastor Oluwabukunola Folayan, said: “When his death was announced, I was devastated. It is very painful that the death came the way it was. He was looking forward to celebrating his 70th birthday. It was like he had pre-empted his death.
“For sometime now, he had said that he may even die before his wife; as if he had seen it coming. We cautioned him but who are we to decide for our Creator? He had been saying it for sometime now. Spiritually, most people often foresee their death but they may not be able to say it.
“It has become a recurrent decimal in the country. It indicates that our security needs to be improved upon. Not because it was Disu, it could be anyone tomorrow. They should investigate it and bring the perpetrators to book. He was just not an in-law but a brother to me. He didn’t discriminate; he was a philanthropist.”
On the burial plans, Folayan said: “We should have buried him now because he is a Muslim but because it has become a state matter. So we have to wait until his corpse is released to us. But the lying-in-state will be done today (yesterday). And hopefully, tomorrow, he would be buried.”
The Chairman of Lekki Free Zone Development Company, LFZDC, Otunba Olusegun Jawando, said of the development: “This situation is very tragic. It should not have happened. We have been working on this project for almost ten years. We never expected it; we reached accord with the community so we did not expect such a tragic event.
“We didn’t envisage that this will affect the project. We hope that the state government will move into the situation and try to resolve the issues.
“Mr. Disu was one of the most hardworking staff of this company. He’s hardworking, honest and very diligent about this project and he has served his country and paid the supreme price in the line of work. We hope that his soul will rest in peace and that his memory will live on in this project.’’
Advising the Police, he said: “Just as the governor has assured, the government would fish out the perpetrators of this act and make sure that security is maintained in the zone. We hope that will be.”
We have lost a gem —Makanjuola, former LSSTF chairman
Chief Remi Makanjuola, former board chairman of Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, board, in an interview with Vanguard, described the late Disu as “a very good man. All he did was often for humanity. He considered others before himself.”
Former commissioner for Commerce and Industry in Lagos State, Mrs. Olusola Oworu, lamented the death of late Tajudeen. They both midwifed the Lekki Free Trade Zone, LFTZ, in the last eight years.
Oworu, while signing the condolence register, said: “May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.”
We have lost a pillar in our family—Brother
Bashiru Disu, the younger brother to the late Tajudeen, described the deceased as the ‘breadwinner’ of the family, saying he catered for their needs.
‘’In fact, we have lost a pillar in our family. He (Tajudeen) was a very hard working and honest person. He was very interested in his work. He was very accommodating. He was a nice man. He is often concerned about people. He catered for the needs of his relatives. We never believed that he wouldn’t survive. But we were shocked that yesterday (Monday) was his last day on earth.
“They (killers) are criminals and are not fit to live among us (Nigerians). We don’t need such people in our society. They have brought shame to the country. Their act may scare investors away from the country.”
Disu’s profile
Bashiru said: “He studied in United State of America, USA. Thereafter, he returned to the country and joined the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN; where he rose to the post of Deputy Director. After leaving the apex bank, Tajudeen worked with African Development Bank, ADB. He returned to the country eight years ago to work on the LFZ.
Court remands 17 suspects over alleged murder of Lagos FTZ’s boss
Meanwhile, Magistrate Folashade Botoku of an Ebute-Meta Magistrate’s Court sitting at Oyingbo yesterday remanded 17 suspects in prison custody over their alleged involvement in the killing of Disu.
The defendants are Jaiye Dele, 40; Alhaji Tajudeen Jegede, 68, Chief Kayode Raufu, 60; Saidi Akanni, 41; Raufu Agunreje 31, Sunday Bulus 30; Taiwo Oyelade, 21; and Abiola Ogunsanwo, 20.
Others include Stephen Okuriaye, 20; Taiwo Gafar, 38; Banji Agunrege, 37; Ahmed Gafar 25; Moses Okoro, 30, Talabi Onadri, 43; Ipaye Oriyomi 25; Yusuf Quadri, 23 and Tunde Yusuf, 27.
Late Disu was allegedly shot dead by the suspects during an uproar that occurred between the indigenes of Okunraye and the management of the Free Trade Zone on Monday.
The prosecution, led by Chief Superintendent of Police, Enoch Edobor, the head of Legal Department of CIID, Panti, informed the court of a remand request brought against the suspects pursuant to section 264(1)(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justices of Lagos State, 2011.
He, therefore, urged the court to remand the suspects in prison custody, pending the time the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, would issue an advice on the matter.
However, lawyers to the defendants, F. C. Morka, Ola Ogunbiyi and Enitinwa, urged the court to refuse the remand applications brought against their clients by the prosecution.
The trio argued that the court had no jurisdiction to grant the remand applications of the prosecution as it was not competent to try them and urged the court to dismiss the remand applications.
However, Magistrate Botoku dismissed the submissions of the defence counsel, saying what the prosecution filed before her court was a remand application, not a charge.
She consequently ordered that all the defendants be remanded in State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department’s custody, Panti, Yaba, for the first 30 days.
The matter has been adjourned till November 16.
Vanguard gathered yesterday that some villagers in neighbouring communities in Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos are alleging that Monday’s protest at Okunraiye, which led to the death of the LFTZ boss was instigated by some of the community leaders.
This is just as commercial and social activities have been brought to a halt in Lekki Free Trade Zone, LFTZ, following the tragic incident.
Some of the villagers who fled their abode when news of Disu’s death filtered in, were reportedly yet to return home.
When Vanguard visited the scene yesterday, the area was devoid of its usual bustling.
However, police patrol teams from Akodo Division and MOPOL 49 were seen combing the area.
A resident (names withheld) who explained what happened that fateful day, said: “ I was in my room resting for the afternoon when I heard noises. I went out to check what was happening only to discover that people were fighting and shouting at the top of their voices.
‘’I went back inside so as not to be implicated. The next thing I heard were gun shots. When I went outside again, I saw some of the leaders instigating the youths to keep fighting for what belongs to them and not sit and watch.
‘’I saw policemen shooting everywhere apparently trying to quell the situation. But the youths kept on fighting. Policemen started releasing tear gas into the air. It affected all of us. Okunraye used to bustle with people going about their businesses. But as you can see, it is now deserted because of what happened yesterday (Monday)”.
Shops around the area still under lock.
A Dangote Fertilizer Ltd truck with number plate LSR-791-XD was seen with its windscreen shattered with bullets. Body of the truck was also perforated with bullets . There were also broken bottles and pebbles at the scene.
END
Why do people say meaningless things like this when some dies? “The deceased’s in-law, Pastor Oluwabukunola Folayan, said: “When his death was announced, I was devastated. It is very painful that the death came the way it was. He was looking forward to celebrating his 70th birthday. It was like he had pre-empted his death.
“For sometime now, he had said that he may even die before his wife; as if he had seen it coming. We cautioned him but who are we to decide for our Creator? He had been saying it for sometime now. Spiritually, most people often foresee their death but they may not be able to say it.” Can’t folks just shut their mouths when they visit people who have been bereaved?