By Peter Omopo
Akure, July 19, 2025 — Femi Oladele, the landlord and prime suspect in the gruesome abduction and murder of two undergraduates of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, has died under mysterious circumstances while in police custody.
Oladele, who was arrested for allegedly masterminding the kidnap and murder of 25-year-old Abah John Friday and his 19-year-old girlfriend, Okah Andrel Eloho, reportedly fell ill while in detention and was admitted to a hospital, where he died on Friday, July 18, during treatment.
Confirming the development, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, SP Olayinka Ayanlade, said Oladele had been under medical supervision since his arrest. “Yes, he is dead. He had been in and out of the hospital since his arrest. He passed away yesterday,” Ayanlade stated.
Background of the Case
The horrific crime dates back to June 2025 when Friday and Eloho went missing. A petition filed by G.O. Omoedu & Co., on behalf of Mr. Emmanuel Peter of Shagari Village, Akure, triggered a police investigation into the whereabouts of the two students, who had been residing in a property owned by Oladele.
Initial inquiries revealed that the victims had been abducted, robbed, raped (in the case of Eloho), and murdered. Their captors also transferred ₦800,000 from Friday’s bank account. The perpetrators then transported the victims’ bodies to Ekiti State, where they were dumped in different locations to conceal the crime.
Police investigators used forensic tracking to trace one of the victims’ phones to Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos. There, they arrested 38-year-old Abdul Mohammed Mubarak, who confessed to purchasing the phone from one Ojo Michael. Michael was subsequently arrested in Aramoko-Ekiti, where a Lexus RX 350 belonging to the victims was also recovered.
During interrogation, Michael admitted to being part of the plot and named Oladele as the mastermind. He also revealed that another accomplice, identified only as “Kola,” is still at large.
Michael disclosed that the female victim, Okah, was raped and both victims were killed to prevent them from identifying their attackers. Their remains were disposed of between Agbado and Ode-Ekiti.
Following his arrest, Oladele confessed to orchestrating the crime, citing a personal grudge against Abah. He allegedly said Abah was “rude” to him and deserved to be “dealt with.” He also admitted to selling the victim’s phone and aiding in the disposal of their bodies.
Acting on his confession, police recovered Okah’s body in a bush near Ode-Ekiti. Her remains were deposited at the General Hospital Mortuary for autopsy. Efforts to locate Abah’s body, believed to have been dumped in a river, are ongoing.
Public Outrage and Legal Fallout
The shocking nature of the crime — which involved betrayal, robbery, rape, and cold-blooded murder — has sparked outrage in Ondo and Ekiti States. The fact that the prime suspect died before standing trial may complicate ongoing investigations and efforts to bring full justice to the victims’ families.
Ondo State Commissioner of Police, CP Abayomi Adebowale Lawal, described the case as “a tragic reminder of the depth of human cruelty and the devastating impact of greed.” He assured the public that efforts to arrest the remaining suspect and secure justice would not relent.
As investigations continue, the mysterious death of the confessed mastermind adds a troubling new dimension to an already horrifying case.
