Three domestic staff members have been arrested in connection with the murder of the daughter of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, Aribemchukwu.
Her lifeless body was discovered in front of the family’s house on Bembe Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, early Wednesday morning.
The suspects—Olatunji Oluwasegun, 35; Umaru Mamman, 45; and Peter Abigel, 21—were apprehended while trying to flee with some of their employer’s belongings.
Aribemchukwu, known as Chuchu, was a medical doctor in her early 30s and the first of two children.
She lived alone with the domestic staff. It is suspected she was killed inside her apartment on Tuesday night and her body was then moved outside to make it look like she was killed elsewhere.
The incident occurred just a few weeks after the family celebrated the wedding of their only son. Relatives of the deceased reported that she was stabbed to death.
They noticed signs of an attempted cleanup of blood in the house and the compound, suggesting that the murder might have happened there.
A relative, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “If this was indeed the work of the staff, it is important to note that they were newly employed less than a month ago, and she was alone with them.
Chuchu was a lovely daughter, and this is a huge tragedy for the family, especially after the recent joyful wedding of her brother. May her soul rest in peace and may the good Lord comfort Soboma and Rita during this difficult time.”
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, confirmed the arrests and said: “We have arrested the three domestic staff, and they have confessed to their involvement in the murder. My team responded quickly due to the security measures in place in Ikoyi, which led to their successful capture.”
He added, “We have recovered all the items they tried to escape with and are continuing our efforts to identify any other accomplices. I advise Lagosians to thoroughly vet their domestic staff before hiring them. We are committed to proactively responding to crime and ensuring safety in the community.”
Before her death, Aribemchukwu was a staff member of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.
