Septuagenarian Escapes Assassination Attempt Over Business Deal

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A 78-year old Pastor of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, New Bethlehem Parish, Ajangbadi, Lagos, Pa Manase Elebijo has escaped assassination attempt after he was brutally attack by aides of his business partner in Lagos.

The incident happened at Igando New town area where Elebijo owned a jointly run make-shift bridge constructed to connect Igando to Ayobo community which has been a subject of controversy in recent time.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the cleric was brutally attacked after he visited the bridge premises to enforce a court judgment but managed to escape the violent assault by sheer luck.

Following the attack, four suspects, Olalekan Oladele, 32; Taiwo Hassan,26; Yemi Folorunsho,46, and Sikiru Ganiyu, 56 have been arrested and charged before Yaba Magistrate’s court for their alleged involvement in the attack of Elebijo.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that Elebijo and his business partner, Chief Joseph Oladipo Omojolowo have been at loggerheads over the sharing of the proceeds from the makeshift pedestrian bridge they jointly built with one other Ismaila Ashimi.

According to Elebijo, he sold his house at Mazamaza area of Lagos and brought the money which they used to start the business with signed agreement by the parties involved.

He said he was the financial director, while Omojolowo was made the managing director and Ashimi as the manager.

He said Omojolowo later sidelined him and Ashimi while he cornered the whole proceed of the business to himself and later chased them away.

The Septuagenarian said when he attempted to query Omojolowo on his decision to solely take over the business; he threatened to kill him and even pointed a gun at him to scare him away.

He said the matter was reported to the police at State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Panti who arrested Omojolowo with the gun was recovered from him as exhibit.

He said as the matter drags, he decided to institute a legal action against him with a suit filed at the Court.

Elebijo, through his counsel, filed a suit before Justice Y.A. Adesanya of the Lagos High Court who gave judgment on the matter.

In the judgement, Justice Adesanya allocated sharing formula of 40 percent each to both Elebijo and Omojolowo and 20 percent to Ashimi.

It was during the enforcement of the judgement that Elebijo was attacked and the matter was reported to the police who arrested the suspects and charged them to court.

At the Yaba Magistrate’s court, the defendants pleaded not guilty.

They were granted bail and remanded in prison custody pending when they will perfect their bail condition.

The matter was adjourned till 3 May 2017.