The Lagos State Police Command has firmly dismissed reports suggesting that Ayomide Adeleye, the murder suspect accused of killing Christianah Idowu, has been released from custody.
In a statement issued on January 4, 2025, police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin clarified the situation following a report by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, which erroneously claimed Adeleye was no longer in detention. Hundeyin confirmed that Adeleye remains in custody, awaiting further legal proceedings.
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Adeleye, a 200-level Philosophy student at Olabisi Onabanjo University, confessed to murdering Idowu, a 300-level student at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in September 2024. After his confession, he was charged with murder and appeared in court on November 5, where a remand warrant was issued. He has since been held at Ikoyi Prison while awaiting advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The police spokesperson explained that the confusion may have arisen from the release of another individual with the same name, who had been remanded for a different offence but released in April 2024, months before Adeleye committed his crime.
“We can confirm that Ayomide Adeleye was charged with murder and is currently remanded for the same offence,” Hundeyin stated. “It is true that another individual bearing the same name was remanded for a different crime and released in April 2024, but that has no connection to this case.”
Hundeyin criticized the publication for failing to verify facts with the appropriate authorities, emphasizing the importance of accurate reporting in sensitive cases. “An outfit that prides itself on investigative journalism should live up to its name. Relying on ‘sources’ rather than the spokesperson of the Correctional Service leads to this kind of misinformation,” he said.
The case of Ayomide Adeleye has drawn widespread attention, given the brutal nature of the crime and the involvement of young students from prominent institutions. The Lagos State Police Command reiterated its commitment to ensuring justice for Christianah Idowu and her family while urging the public to disregard unfounded reports about the case.