POPULAR MUSICIAN, EKWE, ARRESTED OVER ALLEGED MURDER OF WIFE

The police in Lagos have arrested a popular musician, Osakuni Sunday Stereoman (aka Sample Ekwe) over the alleged murder of his estranged wife, Rekia, a mother of one. The couple started living separately last year when they could not resolve their differences.

Police sources said Rekia may have been killed on April 13, 2012. Her body was found in the couple's Honda Civic car under the bridge at Trade fair Complex, Lagos. She was taken to the Isolo General Hospital mortuary. Rekia may have been strangled by yet unknown assailants.

Rekia's sister enquired about her whereabouts from Ekwe who allegedly claimed he did not know. She reported the incident at the Trade Fair police station.

The policemen were said to have trailed Ekwe to the Ejigbo area of the metropolis where he was arrested. The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko, was said to have directed the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to take over the investigation.

A senior police source told Daily Sun that during interrogation, Ekwe told detectives that he and Rekia had been having constant quarrels for a long time after the birth of their son. He was said to have told the police that he packed out of their house in Satellite Town, Lagos.

The source said his wife could not afford to renew the rent and she was evicted by the landlord.

Ekwe was said to have told the police that since he separated from his wife, he had no contacts with her.

The source also revealed that the police were working on the theory that Rekia was assassinated as her body was found in the Honda car.

According to the police investigator, preliminary investigation showed that Rekia's death suggested strangulation.

He said further investigation showed that the body was dumped in a mortuary by three men who claimed they were her relatives. He alleged that the musician and Rekia had been having quarrels on several issues especially on the ownership of the car. By Press time, notable musicians have turned Panti Police station to a Mecca of sort as they paid solidarity visits to the musician.

A popular musician(names withheld) told Daily Sun that Ekwe and the wife had been having serious quarrels over two children. He alleged that one of the two children died in a mysterious circumstance a couple of months ago and that the one that is alive is a cripple.

He said the mystery surrounding their investigation should be left open as it may not be the husband that murdered the wife.

However, the state police spokesman, Mr. Jaiyeoba Joseph, who confirmed the arrest of Ekwe, said. 'We have reasons to interrogate him as he had been having running battle with his wife.' He said the force would get to the root of the matter as investigation was ongoing.

He said the Honda Civic car where the lady was found dead is in the custody of the police. Ekwe met his wife in Abuja and had fallen in love with his music. 'They started dating in 2008 and the same year she gave birth to a baby girl who died five days later. She gave birth to another baby girl named Lerics in 2010,' the source said.

Recall that Ekwe came into lime-light in 2005 under the music label Sechi Records. In 2009, he formed his own record label, Angle 90 Records.