Mr Odion Omoarebokhae, husband to a gospel singer, Yvonne whose lifeless body was found in a private hotel in Benin, Edo state, claims that his wife was drugged and killed, accusing Apostle Psalm Okpe, senior pastor of a Pentecostal church of killing his wife.
Refuting claims that his wife died of cardiac arrest, Odion, a transporter alleged that his wife may have been given an overdose of an unknown substance a day after performing at a church programme in Warri and left to die in the hotel room by the pastor for reasons best known to him.
Recounting his ordeal, Odion who informed that he did not know the pastor said; “At about 9pm, I was called to come to the Airport road police station. Initially, I thought she had an issue with the taxi she took on her way back.
“But later that night, the police, after tossing me here and there, told me that she was dead. It was later that I discovered that the pastor that invited her to cover the programme, Psalm Okpe, had killed my wife.”
Speaking further, Odion said the pastor who is now in police custody had a hand in his wife’s death as the CCTV obtained from the hotel showed that they both lodged in the same hotel room.
“I have watched the CCTV footage. Initially, the pastor said that they came back together and she went her way and he went his own way. But we have been to that place (hotel) and watched the CCTV footage and discovered that, contrary to what he (pastor) wrote, she (deceased) actually slept there.
“Immediately they entered, she was just following like a dumb (and) went up upstairs. The police told me that they met my wife dressed like somebody ready to go out. The police snapped her (took her photograph) like somebody taking a nap.
“I have seen my wife’s body; there is no mark on her. From what I observed, I think she was given an overdose of a substance I do not know. Probably, her system could not take it.
“She communicated with me that day she died, at about 10am, that they have finished performing; she could not return the day before; that she is already in Benin (and) in the next one hour, she will be in the house.”
Odion called on the Nigerian Police Force to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter as he has received calls from some unidentified persons to withdraw the matter.
“One or two person have been calling me that I should try and bury my wife that they will talk to them for settlement. I have told them (that) I didn’t sell her and I am not collecting any money from anybody.
“I want the police to follow this case because I know that pastor Psalm Okpe killed me wife. So, I want the law to make sure he does not go unpunished,” Odion added.
Chris Ezike, Edo State Commissioner of Police informed that an autopsy has been carried out on the deceased but he was yet to receive the result the result.
“The matter is under investigation. Autopsy was conducted on Saturday; as I speak to you, I’ve not received the autopsy report. Not until I have the autopsy report before me, I will not be able to say the cause of death.
“People should also not delve into areas where they have little competence. For somebody who is not a doctor or who has not been advised as such to hold an opinion where you have little competence is also not correct.
“They should allow the investigation to run to its conclusion. If they are not satisfied, they can go further; they can petition the IG. The matter can be taken over from Abuja but it will amount to overheating the polity for people to be making comments while matters are under investigation.
RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
