Ghanaian police ignoring enquiry into my son’s murder

Godwin Agogu

Mr. Fred Ayogu, the father of a Nigerian student, Godwin, 19, who was murdered at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, has accused the Ghanaian police of ignoring enquiries from the family.

Ayogu, a Lagos-based businessman said attempts to get information from the Ghanaian police concerning investigation into Godwin’s murder had been met with silence.

The Cape Coast Police Command was said to be handling the investigation into the murder of the 19-year-old.

Godwin, a 300-level student of Economics, was allegedly killed by yet-to-be identified friends for attempting to get back $5,300 which he had loaned them.

Ayogu told PUNCH Metro that Godwin’s body was dumped outside his hostel in the university with his hands and legs tied. A knife was allegedly used to butcher him.

He said, “The first inkling I had about the incident came from an official of the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana. He called to inform me that Godwin was missing. He said although the commission’s officials had gone to the school, my presence was still required in Ghana.

“The following day, a friend in Jos called my attention that Godwin’s death was all over the social media. When I called the commission official to ask if indeed Godwin was dead, he confirmed it.

“Godwin’s roommate, Aboesi, also called me to say Godwin’s friends murdered him because he insisted on collecting the money that he had loaned them. The following day, which was a Sunday, I left for Ghana.”

At Ghana, Ayogu said he had a meeting with Aboesi, representatives of the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana and the vice-chancellor of the university.

At the meeting, Ayogu said he  urged Aboesi to tell everyone who had murdered Godwin.

Ayogu said, “To my surprise, Aboesi became evasive. This was someone who had told me the day before that Godwin’s friends murdered him. Eventually when he opened up, the details changed. He claimed that Godwin had given him $4,600 for safekeeping. Meanwhile Godwin, who had resumed at the school since September 2013, had yet to pay his school fee which was $4400.

“He later said Godwin collected the money from his room on the day he was murdered. It was then I realised that Godwin didn’t come home for Christmas last year because he had no money.”

PUNCH Metro learnt that those who found Godwin’s corpse were initially unable to identify him. Pictures were said to have been taken of the corpse and posted on the campus until Godwin was identified as a student of the school.

Ayogu lamented, “As of now, I have been informed by the Nigerian community in Ghana that Godwin’s autopsy had been done, but I have yet to get the results. The Ghanaian police investigating the case have stopped picking my calls. Right now, I have no idea what is going on.”

The Ghanaian High Commissioner to Nigeria could not be reached as his contact was not available.

A telephone number that was displayed on the commission’s website rang out when our correspondent called it.

The Chairperson, House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, told our correspondent on Thursday, via a text message, that Godwin’s issue would be presented on Tuesday or Wednesday next week.

She said, “The committee members just got back from Ghana. In the last few months, about four Nigerian students have been murdered in Ghana.

“We view this with grave concern and would bring it to the attention of the House next week.”