By Esther Onyegbula

Fate has an uncanny way of shaping events in a man’s world. And so it is in the life of Solomon James, 20, from Bayelsa State. Last month, the interlock moulder visited a movie outlet at the popular Apple Junction in Amuwo-Odofin area of Lagos State and met an old-time friend named Tosin.

•The Suspect Solomon

While the duo were chatting and talking about old times, one Femi Daramola, 39, a driver, approached them and sought their help in loading bags of pure water into a van in a nearby factory promising to pay them N750. The two friends who were anxious to make some cash quickly agreed and accompanied Femi to the factory behind the popular eatery  –  Mega Chicken  –  at the junction. After the work was done, Femi paid them N250 with a firm promise to pay the balance the following day.

The next day, when Solomon returned to the company to collect the balance, the story changed. He was shocked to be confronted with allegations that his friend, Tosin came back to the factory that same day after they left and begged to start work there. They told the bewildered Solomon that they allowed him but shortly after, he stole over N50,000 from the factory manager’s office and disappeared.

Based on this, both the factory manager named Godwin, and Femi decided to keep Solomon in the factory till the next day so that he would assist them in locating his fleeing friend, Tosin. This decision resulted in a deadly encounter that eventually led to the death of Femi. The principal suspect, Solomon who has been languishing at the cell inside the State Criminal Investigations Department, Panti, Yaba, Lagos narrated his story to  Crime Guard.

“My story”

“My father is from Ogun State while my mother is from Bayelsa State. My father left my mother when I was just three months old. Growing up without a father was not too easy as my mother and grandmother were the only family I knew. I attended Command Primary School, Mile 2 and then proceeded to Ibadan where I attended Orogun Grammar School. After my secondary school education, I returned to Lagos to live with my grandmother at Divine Estate opposite Sheun Estate at Ago Road. I started learning interlock moulding and fixing for some months. Recently, I got a job with a few colleagues to do interlock in Sheun Estate at Ago Road in Lagos.

“The unfortunate incident that caused my arrest started March 3, 2016. After closing from work in the estate, I decided to go to Apple Junction to visit a joint where I always watch movies. There I met a long-time friend and neighbour called Tosin. While we were discussing and watching the movie, a guy whose name I later discovered was Femi approached us that we should come and help him load bags of pure water into a truck in their factory just at the back of Mega Chicken Eatery in Apple Junction.

Quest for cash

“We agreed and just felt we could make some money from it. After loading the truck, Femi gave us N250, promising to balance up N500 the next day. So we left.   Tosin and I agreed I would take N150 while he collects N100 on the condition that when we collect the balance of N500, he would also take a higher amount. So, we parted ways.

The next day, after I had also finished working at the estate, I went back to the pure water factory to collect our balance. But when I got there, Femi held me by the neck shouting ‘where is your friend?’

New twist

“He claimed Tosin had returned early that day and asked to start work with them which they obliged. But little did they know that Tosin had an ulterior motive. Femi and the factory manager named Godwin, alleged that while Godwin excused him to attend a fellowship, Tosin broke into his office and stole over N50,000 from the safe box. I told them I was not aware of anything and that if I was aware, I would not have returned to ask for the N500.

I promised to help them find Tosin. I took them to a game house in Mile 2, where I know he frequents, but he was not there. I also took them to Amuwo Odofin Primary School where Tosin told me he sleeps since he ran away from home, but he was also not there. I then took them to his parents’ house where the parents also confirmed that Tosin had left home for months.

Unlawful detention

“Godwin and Femi took me back to the factory and refused to let me go. Femi told Godwin to lock the two of us from the outside in one room. He said we would sleep in the same room. While we were together, Femi was beating me with a stick. He even threatened to take me to a shrine in Ogun State where I would be rendered useless. Out of fear and in a bid to defend myself, I pushed him with force and he fell down. Immediately, I picked up an interlocking stone that was used to stand a mosquito curl and hit him on his head from behind. He fell and I quickly forced the door open and ran out. I, however, did not escape through the main gate but chose to scale the fence to avoid being noticed.

Burble burst

“I did not know he was dead. One week later, I decided to go to Tosin’s house to report to his father what he had caused me. On getting there, Tosin’s father held me, saying they had been looking for me. He and a few others took me to FESTAC Police Division where I was asked a few questions and was also told that Femi died as a result of the hitting on his head. I was later brought to the SCID.”

Regrets

On how Solomon feels about the turnout of things and what he may likely face, he said, “I am not happy about the turnout of things; I did not intend to kill Femi but only wanted to defend myself. Tosin is the cause of all this.

They should have thought of the fact that if I knew anything about the stolen money, I wouldn’t have returned to ask for as little as N500. Even on that day, I was telling them I had my own money (I was paid where I worked) in my pocket, that I could not be involved in such, but they did not believe. I just feel this is how God wants it and I cannot question Him.”

Although Tosin is still at large, the police, however, said that investigations had been completed and the case would proceed to the court for justice.