The immediate past Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Edward Onoja has denied involvement in the circumstances that led to the death of Aiyepeku Ayodeji and Adebayo Pelumi.
Recall that the 26 year old photographer, Ayodeji, an indigene of Ekinrin Adde in Ijumu Local Government Area of the State, was allegedly lured and killed by Pelumi, a correctional service officer.
The suspect reportedly fled the scene with the victim’s body, prompting a police manhunt to locate both him and Ayodeji’s remains.
The case took a dramatic turn when the body of the prime suspect was later found in a hotel in Lokoja, with preliminary investigations suggesting suicide.
Following the discovery of the remains of Ayodeji, Sahara Reporters reported a petition by the families of the deceaseds to the police, calling for the investigation of the former Deputy Governor, Onoja and others.
However, in a public statement on Friday, Onoja described the allegations as baseless and defamatory.
“To be accused of involvement in the deaths of these individuals is not only cruel but defamatory in the extreme. Since the publication, I have been inundated with calls and messages from all over the country and abroad, questioning the vile and unfounded insinuations now linked to my name.
“Accordingly, I consider this an attempt to tarnish my hard-earned reputation and bring my family to ridicule and that is totally unacceptable,” he said.
Onoja denied knowing Ayodeji, and stated Pelumi was his son-in-law married to his adopted daughter.
“My daughter left her matrimonial home last month with her son, after enduring almost four years of persistent and escalating domestic violence from Pelumi in the name of marriage. His family was aware of this abuse but my daughter spared me the painful details for years.
“It is also a fact that Pelumi had some mental health disorders later confirmed by hospitals in Lokoja – a fact that was deliberately concealed from my family at the time of his marriage to my daughter. It was only after marriage that these violent outbursts and patterns of abuse became evident;patterns which endangered the life and wellbeing of my daughter and their child.
“The final straw came when Pelumi, in a fit of rage, pulled a knife and came after her with fatal intent, prompting her to finally reach out to us last month fully determined to stay away until he got help for his fits of uncontrollable rage and physical violence.
“Of course I sent people to get her immediately after putting a call across to the Kogi State Police Command for men to supervise the evacuation due to his threats to attack anyone who dared to show up.
“In the end we did not need the police,surprisingly, Pelumi himself seemed to have had a rethink and even helped to pack their things, load the vehicle and bid herself and their son (who only turned one several days ago) safe journey to Abuja.
“After some time his parents visited on the night of Monday 21st of July, 2025. Earlier that morning,Pelumi came around. Though he did not come to the house but called his wife who met him at a Barbing Saloon in front of my estate where I was later told (they had some time together with their son).
“During the meeting with his parents they finally admitted he had some issues, namely, psychotic episodes, and requested that the wife and child stay with us for 3 months after which she will come stay with them in Lagos for another 3 months while we monitored Pelumi’s treatment and progress.
“Present at this meeting were Pelumi’s parents, my own aged parents (his wife’s grandparents), my wife and sundry other family members. We had an amicable 2 hours or so brainstorming solutions to the problems between our two children in their marriage.
“Whoever claimed that I ‘rebuffed’ his family’s overtures for a peace meeting is an inveterate liar – as I have outlined above, we had a very pleasant meeting in the matters and were working together to help them based on our agreements above before news of the sudden and gory deaths suddenly broke,” he highlighted.
While reiterating his innocence on the unfortunate events, he vowed to seek appropriate redress.
“I am not involved and I reject in totality any insinuation or allegation to the contrary. Moreover, it is defamatory and damaging and I will seek appropriate and legal redress.
“Let it be clear, My reputation, service and life’s work will not be sacrificed on the altar of misjudgment or sensational journalism. May Ayo and Pelumi receive their fitting rewards from the Eternal Judge,and may the truth emerge soon.”
