The family of late businessman, Mr Solomon Iwerebor, has cautioned the police against any attempt to compromise investigations into his alleged murder, insisting that those arrested in connection with his death must be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted if found culpable.
A brother of the deceased, Justin, and his wife, Anthonia, with whom Solomon was staying before his suspicious death, were arrested on Monday in connection with the alleged murder.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, two sisters of the deceased, Mrs Stella Iwerebor and Mrs Udo Hamis, alongside their lawyer, Dr Charles Mekwunye, SAN, said they were deeply distressed by the circumstances surrounding their brother’s death and the lack of information about events leading to and following his death.
They said Solomon, who lived in Germany with his wife and children, had not been seen by members of the family for over two years after he came to Nigeria on a visit to Mr and Mrs Justin.
The family said they were shocked to learn of his death from third parties on September 6, several days after he had reportedly died.
They added that they were never informed of any illness the deceased might have suffered before his death.
According to them, efforts to establish the nature of the illness that allegedly led to his death, the hospital where he was treated and the whereabouts of his corpse proved abortive, as the suspects allegedly refused to provide the information.
“All we want is proper investigation. Our brother has died under very disturbing circumstances and we want to know how he died. It is hard that we have lost one brother and another one and his wife are suspects in the death, but we want answers.
“We want the police to conduct a thorough investigation and not bow to any pressure. We want to know where his corpse is, all that transpired before and after his death, and why we were not informed four days after he died. Our family deserves answers,” they said.
Before the arrest of Justice and his wife over the circumstances surrounding Solomon’s death, the law firm of Charles Mekwunye, SAN, had petitioned the Lagos State Police Command, demanding, among other things, a thorough investigation to unravel the circumstances leading to his death.
The petition also sought information on the whereabouts of the deceased’s corpse, the identity and location of the hospital where he was allegedly treated, as well as relevant medical records.
Following the referral of the matter to the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, and the invitation of the suspects, the Zone 2 Command attempted to take over the investigation, prompting the family to submit another petition to the Inspector-General of Police on October 23, 2026.
In the petition, the family alleged that the suspects had refused to honour police invitations at Panti. They also questioned why Zone 2, which they said did not have a homicide division, would take over a suspected murder case.
The family further urged the IGP to order the transfer of the case back to Panti and direct that the final investigation report be forwarded to the Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation for appropriate legal action.
Haven arrested the suspects a few days ago, in the alleged murder, the family also appealed to the police to not bow to undue pressure to hastily release them or compromise the investigation.
Other demands by the family include establishment and location of the hospital where the deceased was allegedly taken to in Benin city, Edo State, with relevant medical records; establishment of present whereabouts of the deceased remains and ensure the remains are not moved, buried, cremated or disposed in a manner that frustrates investigations.
They also demanded for an autopsy or other forensic examinations to be conducted to determine the cause of death subject to applicable law and forensic protocols.
