Deadly Punch Lands NURTW Ticketing Official In Morgue

The Benue State-born Okada rider, who gave his name as Igor Jabless, allegedly dealt Sodiq the deadly punch at about 7.30a.m. over payment for a ticket issued by the deceased.

The Nigerian Tribune learnt that Jabless told Sodiq that he was not ready to pay because he belonged to the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders’ Association of Nigeria (ACOMMORAN).

But there were different versions of the incident that led to Sodiq’s death, as some eyewitnesses said that Jabless did not return any of the jabs thrown at him by the deceased, because of the way NURTW officials were dreaded by drivers and Okada operators.

“In the process of throwing punches at the Okada rider, the NURTW official’s cap fell off. 

As he bent to pick it, he just slumped,” a witness said.
However, another version of the story had it that the refusal of the Okada rider to pay for the ticket given to him led to an argument which made the deceased to hit him severally.

According to the witness, “when the fight between Sodiq and Jabless ,started, Sodiq had an upper hand, as he dealt the okada rider several blows. Jabless succeeded in returning a punch, but Sodiq slumped immediately it landed on him.”

The Nigerian Tribune further gathered that Sodiq was rushed to a nearby private hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO),in Oyo State, Adekunle Ajisebutu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, confirmed the story, saying that the suspect had been arrested while the remains of the deceased had been deposited in the mortuary at State Hospital, Ring Road, Ibadan.

Ajisebutu added that the state Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade, had directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku for investigations.