According to Vanguard, Esther Fidelix Osaghae, a 30-year-old woman who is currently breastfeeding, has reached out to the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, and Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State for assistance in investigating the circumstances surrounding her husband’s death at his workplace.
On Monday, July 29, 2024, in the early hours of the morning, Fidelix Osaghae, who was 33 years old, passed away at his workplace located across from M Mechanic Site Angle 90 in Auchi, Edo State.
The cause of his death is still unknown.
Fidelix had just returned to the office after going home to pick something up.
During an interview with Sunday Vanguard, Esther Fidelix Osaghae explained that her husband had been employed as a Manager at Valchi Fast Food, a restaurant and bar situated next to M Mechanic Site Angle 90 in Auchi, Edo State, for the past four years.
In her account of that fateful day, Esther said, “My husband left the house on July 28 and went to work on July 29 at around 1 pm.
“He usually called me on Whatsapp video whenever he was working late, and he did so at around 1:30 am.
“He rushed home around 2:30 a.m., claiming his boss had asked him to pick up something.
“He left immediately for the office, saying he would be back soon.
“I fell asleep at approximately 3 am, but when I woke up at 5 am, I realized that he had not come back yet. I tried calling my husband multiple times, but he didn’t respond.
“I inquired why he wasn’t answering his calls to Tracy, and she reassured me by saying, “Don’t worry, everything is taken care of, Madam.
“Confused, I asked her what she meant by that, but she repeated, “Don’t worry, everything is under control,” and abruptly ended the call.
“However, when I attempted to call again, nobody answered.”
Esther expressed her frustration and confusion after waiting for an hour without any progress and being unable to contact her husband.
She mentioned that Mr. Valentine Oyemike, the owner of VaLchi Fast Food, called her and requested her presence at Favour Hospital in Afasho, Edo State.
She narrated, “My phone rang around 6 am, and it was my husband’s boss Valentine Oyemike calling. He asked, ‘Are you Fidelix Osagaie’s wife?’ I said ‘yes’.
“He mentioned that they were en route to the hospital. I inquired about the situation and the reason for their visit to the hospital. I also asked about the whereabouts of my husband.
“I asked if there was something wrong with my husband. He reassured me that everything was fine and there was no issue. However, he informed me that my husband was at Favour Hospital in Afasho, Edo State.
“As I was getting ready to leave, my older sister Omolara advised me to stay because our baby was too young to be taken to the hospital.
“She decided to go instead. Omolara rushed to the hospital, hoping to find her brother-in-law, Fidelis Osagahe, possibly receiving medical treatment.
“To her shock, she discovered his lifeless body in the backseat of a parked car on the hospital premises.”
Esther’s sister, Omolara, provided a detailed account of her experience at the hospital to Sunday Vanguard.
She explained that when she encountered her sister’s husband’s boss at the hospital, she inquired about Fidelix.
The boss pointed towards his car, and as she approached, she noticed Fidelix’s body in the back seat of Mr. Valentine’s car.
Omolara expressed her confusion and asked for an explanation, but received no response.
She decided to examine the body further and observed dark patches resembling burn marks on his upper chest and neck, along with bruises all over his body and torn trousers.
She found these details concerning as they did not make sense.
It was at the hospital that she discovered the management had refused to accept Fidelix’s corpse because he had already been brought in dead.
While they were still at the hospital, the police from Auchi Division arrived and declared that they would handle the case.
Esther Fidelix Osaghae expressed her frustration, stating that since the police took over the case, no progress has been made, and no arrests have been made.
She claimed that the police seemed more interested in discouraging them from pursuing a proper investigation.
“We are seeking answers, but unfortunately the police are actively discouraging us from demanding an autopsy and attempting to hide the details of the case,” she stated.
In a letter written by the Akin Fadeyi Foundation to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on behalf of the deceased’s family, they urged the IGP to intervene and ensure a fair resolution to the case.
The letter claimed that previous attempts to get the police to conduct a thorough investigation had been unsuccessful.
According to the letter, “the DPO of the Auchi Division, Edo State has shown no willingness to take the necessary steps to address this suspicious murder.”
The police, the letter alleged, were also quick to jump to conclusions.
When contacted, Valentine Oyemike declined to comment, stating that the case was currently under police investigation.
The spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, Superintendent of Police (SP) Moses Joel Yamu, confirmed that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
“The findings of the investigation will be announced once it is completed,” he stated.