Onitsha Traders Demand Closure Of Jubilee Hotel Over Mysterious Death

Some traders of Ose Okwuodu market in Onitsha, Anambra State, have pleaded with the Anambra State Police Command to effect the closure of Jubilee Hotel in Onitsha, where one Onyemaechi Idoko died mysteriously on January 30. 2020.

The deceased who hailed from Enugu Ezike, Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, was said to have left his shop at about 5pm on the fateful day and was found dead 12 minutes later in one of the rooms of the hotel.

The angry traders, who spoke to newsmen on Friday, said they were disappointed that the operations of the hotel were ongoing even when investigations into the death of Idoko were yet to be concluded.

 They however commended the State Commissioner of Police, John Abang for ordering thorough investigations into the incident following a petition by the counsel to the deceased family, Stanley Udo.

According to the spokesman of the traders, Godwin Ezebilo, “The circumstances surrounding Idoko’s death are not clear. Initially, the information was that he died after sleeping with a woman. But feelers now indicate that it was a setup in connivance with the manager of the hotel.”

A brother to the deceased, Chiedozie Idoko, disclosed that, “My brother had left his business premises at Ose Okwuodu market, Onitsha, at 5pm. But 12 minutes later, his wife was called to come and identify her husband’s corpse near Zenith Bank axis, Obanye/New Market road.”

He added that when he and others rushed to where the deceased’s wife was directed to go, the lifeless body of the deceased was found at the front of the hotel.

 He said the manager of the hotel could not give any meaningful explanation regarding the whereabouts of the woman he claimed came to the hotel with his brother.

He said, “I’m convinced that they are hiding the truth. The screens of my brother’s two phones were broken, possibly to make it impossible for us to see his call logs. Unfortunately, the manager of the hotel, who was interrogated by the police, was quickly released.”

When contacted, the manager of the hotel, who identified himself as Osita, declined to comment, stating that he needed to consult his lawyer first.

The public relations officer of the state police command,  Haruna Muhammed, said autopsy had been conducted on the corpse and that the result was being awaited.

THE WHISTLER can confirm that the police have arrested the manager of the hotel for questioning.