The fate that Akure, Ondo-based caterer, Adeni Iyabode, at the hands of two teenagers, Philip Emmanuel and Precious Kolawole, would make any Good Samaritan think twice before extending a hand of support to struggling and less privileged members of society.
She gave Philip and Precious – 16- and 18-year-olds respectively – jobs and treated them like family members. She opened her heart and her home for them. Those privy to the relations that existed between the woman and her two boys said she gave them free access to every part of her home and resources.
Rather than appreciate and cherish the relationship with their benefactor, Philip and Precious abused it and killed the 54-year-old successful caterer in the most gruesome manner.
It was gathered that the two boys hatched the evil plot to kill the generous woman after they overheard a conversation about some money paid into her account by a client.
“Before that incident, the boys had gained access to the lady’s bank account and obtained her ATM PIN, maybe after she sent them to make withdrawals.
“Philip, who was described as a trusted employee of the deceased, was said to have briefed Precious about the money being expected by their boss. They both agreed that the only way to get the money was to kill her.”
The evil teenagers hatched the plan when the cater was celebrating her 54th birthday.
In the aftermath of the birthday, the boys were invited to the Iyabode’s home in her Oda Road, in the Ondo State Capital, ostensibly to help clean up the house.
“When they got to the house, the madam, sensing that the boys would be hungry, told them to go into the kitchen to help themselves with food. She did not know that she was strengthening them to attack and kill her,” one source familiar with the investigation said.
By the time they were done eating, the innocent woman was already fast asleep.
“They pounced, overpowered her and covered her face with a quilt. They then started clubbing her with a pestle. When she could no longer struggle they stabbed her mercilessly until she passed out and died.
“After killing her, they took out the ATM card and ran to the bank to withdraw as much money as they could from her account. Unfortunately for them, the account was either low or she had made withdrawals earlier. As a result, the criminals could only withdraw N60,000.”
It was gathered that they returned to the house and in a bid to cover their tracks, they tried to ignite the gas and set the house on fire.
Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Abayomi Oladipo, who confirmed the report, said a painstaking investigation led to the arrest of Philip, who volunteered a statement detailing how the heinous murder was executed.
In his account of the killing, Philip said, “I am here because I killed my madam. Last month, I worked with her for five months. I was her cook. She just employed a driver who has only worked for two weeks.
“One day, the driver came to me and said N150,000 just entered Madam’s account. He told me we should kill my madam and collect the money. I said I had not killed someone before.”
“On Saturday, madam said I should come and help her wash clothes because she was very tired. The driver came around and madam was surprised but the driver explained that he wanted to help her.
“That day, the driver brought a drink and gave it to me. I drank it. He brought out a cutlass and started threatening me that he would also kill me. We went into the house and he pushed me inside. He said I should use the cutlass to hit the woman. I did it. But I started crying.
“After we killed the woman, the driver went to check the money in the account and found only N60,000. He gave me N30,000. I went to Idanre. After four days, we heard the woman had died. Police called us to come and explain when last we saw the woman. I told them and they asked me to go home.
“They called me again and told me I was in communication with the driver. I had to confess.”
Precious, who was arrested after two months of being on the run, denied being the mastermind.
He said it was Philip who planned the killing and lured him into the act.
“I am a waiter to her. Two of us were involved in the killing. I was only given a phone and N30,000. It was the second boy who heard about the money. He called me and we did the act.”
“I used part of the money and dashed out the rest of the money. I am staying with my parents here in Akure. I am still in secondary school. “I wanted to be an engineer. I know how to drive any kind of truck.”
Meanwhile, CP Abayomi Ladipo has cautioned Nigerians about “openly discussing financial transactions or other personal matters in the presence of staff or others who do not need to be informed.”
