Police arrest man for ‘beheading friend after diverting his N30m’ in Delta

The police command in Delta state has arrested Efe Onoetiyi for allegedly killing his friend Paulinus Okon over N30 million.

Speaking on Monday while parading Onoetiyi, Abaniwonda Olufemi, the Delta state commissioner of police, said the suspect colluded with three others to kill Okon.

The other suspects are Okeimute Gaga, Lawrence Joseph, and Sunday Ikpeba.

Olufemi said Onoetiyi confessed that he killed Okon after spending the N30 million that the deceased gave him to buy a house for him.

The Delta CP said the suspect advertised a N30 million house for his late friend, who paid for the property in three instalments.

However, Onoetiyi spent the money to purchase a plot of land and a car for himself.

Olufemi said when the suspect was asked by the late Okon’s family members about his whereabouts, he denied that they both went out together.

The police commissioner said the suspect collected N500,000 from the deceased’s family to pay an herbalist, who could reveal the whereabouts of his missing friend.

Olufemi said the suspect later informed the deceased’s family that his friend was kidnapped while his abductors were demanding a N20 million ransom.

“Okeimute Gaga narrated how Efe brought Paulinus to Orere River in Otokutu and requested that they kill him,” the CP said.

“The suspect further stated that on the 8th of September 2024, himself, Efe, and Sunday Ikpeba, and a 30-year-old herbalist known as Lawrence Joseph, tied Paulinus Okon to a stake close to Orere River and beheaded him alive.

“His body was thrown into the river while the herbalist took the head of Paulinus and buried it at his shrine in Otokutu.

“During interrogation, Efe was asked why he killed his friend, Paulinus. He stated that he saw a building for sale at a cost of N30 million naira, which he advertised to the deceased, and the deceased paid for it in three instalments.

“But instead of buying the house, he diverted the money for his personal use, bought two lands, and was building a duplex for himself.”