Police arrest boyfriend of missing UNILAG student

A dancer, Samson Babarinde, and two of his friends

have been arrested by the police over the

disappearance of a 22-year-old student of the

University of Lagos, Bunmi Oluwa.

It was gathered that Oluwa and Babarinde were

dating each other.

The 300-level student, who lived with her sister in the

Lekki area of the state, was said to have been missing

since Tuesday, May 12.

It was learnt that she had told her sister that she was

going to school on the fateful day but reportedly

headed for a bar in Small Kuramo, a neighbouring

community, where Babarinde and his friends –

Patrick Okechukwu and Lucky Onuah – work as

dancers.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Babarinde, who is also a

mechanic, took Oluwa to his house in Ijora, where

she spent some days.

It was gathered that Oluwa’s family had searched for

her to no avail.

PUNCH Metro learnt that her father, Alhaji Taofeeq,

eventually reported the incident at the Ilasan Police

Station after he was told that she was with her lover.

Twenty-three-year-old Babarinde, who hails from the

Ipokia Local Government Area, Osun State, however,

told the police that although Oluwa came to his

house, he had sent her packing when he learnt her

father was looking for her.

He added that while they were together, her aunt

called her on the phone to inquire about a sum of

N15,000.

He said, “We met each other at Oganla bar in Small

Kuramo. I wooed her and she accepted. She told me

she would be coming to my house every Friday and

be leaving on Monday.

“She came to my house in Ijora on Wednesday. The

following day, her sister told her on the phone that

she should bring her N15,000. But Bunmi (Oluwa)

said she did not want to go home without the money.

When I learnt that her mum was coming here, I told

her to go. I have not seen her since then.”

Okechukwu said he had warned his friend not to

allow Oluwa sleep in his house, but his advice was

ignored.

“Bunmi came to the bar that fateful day and Samson

(Babarinde) said she was going to pass the night with

him. Onuah and I advised him against it, but he

ignored us. I did not know about her whereabouts

after then,” he said.

A police prosecutor, Inspector I. Okeke, on Monday,

brought the three suspects before a Tinubu

Magistrate’s Court on two counts of abduction.

The charge read, “That you, Samson Babarinde,

Patrick Okechukwu and Lucky Onuah, on May 12,

2015 till date, at Small Kuramo, Lekki in the Eti-Osa

Local Government Area, within Lagos Magisterial

District, did conspire to commit felony to wit:

abduction.

“That you, on the same date, time and place in the

aforementioned magisterial district, did abduct one

Bunmi Oluwa out of the custody of her parent.”

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the

charges, which, according to the police, contravene

sections 409 and 266 of the Criminal Law of Lagos

State of Nigeria, 2011.

The presiding magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, admitted

them to bail in the sum of N50,000, with two sureties

each in like sum.

The case was adjourned till June 23, 2015.

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