Victim’s family lament as police release Nollywood director who was arrested over murder of businesswoman

Siblings have lamented the release of a murder suspect, a Nollywood director named Mr Nonso Ekene, from Delta State police custody.

WITHIN NIGERIA had reported that Ekene and a security guard, Mr Isaac Sunday were arrested by the Police over the murder of a 36 years businesswoman, Miss Obiageli Onekanse.

The deceased’s elder brother, Mr Sunday Onekanse, who earlier disclosed that the police were reluctant to arrest the Nollywood director has expressed displeasure over the release of Ekene.

Recall that Mr Sunday Onekanse accused the police of complicity in the matter, disclosing that the GRA Division of the Nigerian Police was not ready to arrest the suspected Nollywood Director until the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Hafiz Inuwa intervened.

Onekanse has now lamented the release of Ekene from custody as he calls the police action not only painful, but tragic, in spite of available evidence and police record of several threats on her life.

However, a petition by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Community and Social Development in the state, Mrs Flora Alatan, on Thursday, has indicated state government’s interest in the gruesome murdered of Miss Obiageli Onekanse.

The petition addressed to the state Commissioner of Police, Hafiz Inuwa, in part reads, “We will like to draw the attention of your office to the gruesome murder of Miss Joy Obiageli Onekanse.

“Joy, a 36-year-old woman, was murdered and buried in a shallow grave at No. 4 Anene Basua Street, Asaba, and that the security guard at the compound and her neighbour, Mr Nonso Ekene, have both been identified and confirmed as suspects in the case.

“We are deeply interested in this matter as the ministry is mandated to protect and uphold the rights of women and children in the state; the perpetuators of this crime must be brought to justice.

“In the light of this, our legal officer will be involved in the process.”