Death of Fidelis Osaghae: Widow Petitions Inspector General of Police, Accuses Boss of Cover-up

In a shocking turn of events, the widow of late Mr. Fidelis Osaghae, who allegedly died in a questionable circumstance at his place of work in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police to initiate a probe into her husband’s death.

According to a petition filed on her behalf by the Akin Faadeyi Foundation, a civil society organization, Mrs. Esther Fidelis Osaghae has alleged that her husband died under questionable circumstances while in the custody of his boss, Mr. Oyemike Valentine.

The deceased, Mr. Fidelis Osaghae, was an employee of Mr. Valentine, who runs a hotel, restaurant, and recreational center. On July 28, 2024, he left for work at Va Lchi Fast Food and Bar, located opposite Mechanic Site Angle 90, Auchi Edo State, at around 1 pm. His wife, Mrs. Fidelis Osaghae, claimed that her husband called her on a video call at 1:30 am on July 29, informing her that he was still at work. Later that day, he returned home at 2:30 am, told his wife that Mr. Valentine had instructed him to bring "something" back to work, and promised to return soon.

However, when his wife called him at 5 am as he was yet to return home, she was unable to reach him. She then reached out to one Tracey, a supervisor at the same facility, who assured her that everything was under control. At around 6 am, Mrs. Fidelis Osaghae received a call from her husband’s boss, Mr. Valentine, telling her to come to Favour Hospital at Afashio, where he assured her that her husband was fine.

But upon arriving at the hospital, Mrs. Fidelis Osaghae’s sister found the lifeless body of her husband in Mr. Valentine’s car. The hospital staff had initially rejected Mr. Fidelis, claiming he was brought in dead. However, upon observation, they noticed strange marks and injuries on his body, which may have been inflicted on him before his death.

The widow has alleged that her husband was in the custody of his boss until his death and that Mr. Valentine has been walking freely since the incident. She has also accused the DPO of the Auchi division of not demonstrating any willingness to take necessary actions towards addressing the suspicious homicide.

In the petition, Mrs. Fidelis Osaghae has called on the IGP to take over the investigation, stating that they still believe the Nigeria police can help her get justice for her husband’s death. When contacted, Mr. Valentine did not respond to calls. However, the Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, SP Moses Yamu, confirmed that the matter was under investigation.

The incident has sparked concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in the investigation, with Mrs. Fidelis Osaghae’s family and supporters calling for a thorough probe into the circumstances surrounding her husband’s death.