Driver’s Corpse Found In Gutter

Kehinde Joseph was reportedly stabbed to death and his corpse dumped in a gutter beside a filling station in the area.

The residents of Arepo in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State on Saturday woke up to the gory sight of the corpse of a 32-year-old driver, Kehinde Joseph.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the Ekiti State indigene who lived in Arepo, left home for work on Friday.

He had driven his boss, who equally lived in Arepo, to the Lagos Island, where the latter worked.

However, Kehinde’s corpse was found in the gutter on Saturday.

The body was removed by the police from the Warewa division.

At the victim’s house, a crowd of sympathisers, including relatives, were seen condoling with the deceased’s widow, Kemi.

The couple, who had been married for four years, have a three-year-old daughter together.

Kemi, who is also three months pregnant, told PUNCH Metro that her husband had been working with the boss for the past two years without any problem.

She said, “He normally drove the boss to work on the Lagos Island every day. On Friday, after we spoke in the morning, he was not reachable in the evening. It was on Saturday that a motorcyclist, who lives in our neighbourhood, called to tell me that my husband’s corpse was seen in the gutter.

“He was stabbed by the side and his shirt was taken away. There was no blood in the gutter and from what I saw his underwear was pulled up before he was stabbed. There were little bloodstains on his singlet.

“His boss told us that after they closed from work on Friday, he drove her to Ikeja. She said she gave him transport fare back home, while she went for a vigil. She said she heard the news of the death like everybody else.”

The assailants went away with Kehinde’s phone, but left his wallet.

The widow appealed for help, saying the husband was the breadwinner of the family.

PUNCH Metro was told that shortly after the incident, Kehinde’s boss gave the family N45,000 being payment for the victim’s salary.

The elder brother of the victim, Darasimi Joseph, said Kehinde’s boss had not told the family the whole truth.

He said, “I believe there is something fishy about the death and only God knows it. Someone dropped his boss by 8pm and the next morning, we saw the corpse in the gutter. I believe everything that is going on will be uncovered in a matter of time.”

The elder sister of the victim, Toyin Adeojo, called on the government to intervene and give the family justice, saying the family was poor.

“We have been unjustly oppressed by powerful people. We are poor, but we want the government to come to our aid. His death is a big loss to our family. He was a friendly, cheerful and well-behaved man. He must not die in vain,” she said.

The victim’s corpse was said to have been deposited in a mortuary for autopsy.

When contacted, the boss declined comment.

She said, “I think if the family is alleging anything, you should find out from them what the secret is. If they gave you all the information; for instance, why the corpse was dumped in Arepo where he lived, you should also find out from them. I am not obliged to speak with you. If you want information, you should speak with those that gave you information.”

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident.

He, however, said it was reported as a case of sudden and unnatural death, adding that the police had begun investigations.