Father Silent on Daughter’s Killer’s Prosecution – Funab Student’s Father

A Father’s Pain and Plea for Justice

A year has passed since 21-year-old Christianah, a promising student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, was murdered. Yet, the grief of her father, Mr Oluwafemi Idowu, remains raw and unhealed. Speaking with a journalist, he opens up about the deep pain of losing his daughter, the frustration of being left in the dark with no updates on the case, and his heartfelt plea for justice.

Who Is Mr Oluwafemi Idowu?

Mr Oluwafemi Idowu is the father of the late Christianah Idowu, a 300-level Business Administration student at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, who was killed last year. He is 50 years old. He studied Electrical Installation in school but currently works as a commercial motorcyclist.

Coping with the Loss

It has been a year since his daughter was murdered. Mr Idowu shared how he has been coping with the loss. At the time of her death, she was 21 years old. He expressed his unhappiness with how the case has progressed. That is why he made a public appeal to know whether the suspect has been released or if the case has been abandoned. He has been kept in the dark since this case began. It is painful because we live in a country where, without money, your voice often goes unheard. That is why he had to speak out.

Unfulfilled Promises from Authorities

Mr Idowu elaborated on the unfulfilled promises from the authorities handling the case. The whole case began a year ago. Christianah and her friend worshipped at the same church. She had gone to Ita Oluwo for her industrial attachment. On that day, it was raining, and a church member invited her inside. Unfortunately, he murdered and buried her in his father’s compound.

During the investigation, Christianah’s phone was tracked, which helped to identify the suspect’s location. After recovering the phone and applying significant pressure, it was confirmed that he had killed Christianah.

They filed a report at the police station and provided a statement since Christianah was staying with her guardian, Mr Ozobia, in Ita Oluwo. The case was then taken to court, and the first sitting occurred in September 2024. Since then, they have not received any updates.

Suspicions of Foul Play

Mr Idowu mentioned that he no longer knows the suspect’s whereabouts. He suspects foul play, as he has not heard anything about the suspect or the case since last year.

Confidence in Justice

He asked if he is confident that justice will be served. Although the government is handling the case, his concern is that he has not received any information about the suspect, whether he has been released or granted bail. That is his main worry.

The Force spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, who was the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Command at the time, confirmed that the suspect had not been released.

Despite making a public video appeal, nobody, including officials from the police headquarters in Abuja, has contacted him regarding the case.

Deliberate Delays or Abandonment?

Mr Idowu believes the case is intentionally delayed or abandoned. That is why he appealed to the public for help. He doesn’t trust the way things are going, and no one has been willing to provide information.

Updates from the DPP

His other daughter said he recently visited the head of the DPP in Lagos. However, Mr Idowu is not aware of that. Maybe she took that step, but as for him, he hasn’t received any information about this case since last year.

What Troubles Him Most

What troubles him most is that they live in a country where they often don’t feel valued as human beings. People think they can do anything, and because of connections, they believe they can escape justice. He is not rich, but he is thankful to God for what he has. That is why he had to speak out; he has no one else to help him. He doesn’t have the money to follow through with a murder case like this, so he is pleading for justice on behalf of his daughter.

Message to Officials

If he had the opportunity to address the officials handling this case, he would ask them to handle the case in a way that reassures Nigerians that justice is attainable and that citizens can trust the system. He wants them to ensure that the accused does not go free. His concern is that if this case is left unresolved, others could become victims.

Emotional Impact

He admitted that this has affected his emotional healing as a father. When justice is delayed, some people might feel compelled to take matters into their own hands. In his case, he has entrusted the government to handle this, but they seem to be prolonging it, even when there is sufficient evidence against the accused.

Bribes and Justice

In many places, bribes are collected, and suspects are released, but he does not want that to happen here. That is why he is appealing to the public for help. He is not wealthy, but he is rich in faith. Many would leave such a case entirely in God’s hands, but here there is evidence, and they know the suspect is guilty.

Christianah’s Mother

Christianah’s mother passed away ten years ago. Since then, he has been the sole parent taking care of the family. He has not remarried, and he has been raising his children alone.

Hope for Justice

He is hopeful that Christianah will get the justice she deserves. He trusts that good Nigerians are willing to help, because if this case is mishandled, it could happen to another family. Christianah is gone, but they cannot let the case be ignored. Justice may not come instantly, but they must ensure the matter is pursued and not overlooked.

What Kind of Justice?

He is not in a position to dictate what should be done because, according to the law, the case should be judged based on the evidence. Since there is proof that this man committed the crime, he wants the legal system to handle it properly. That is the justice that would satisfy Nigerians and him.

Concerns About the Future

For now, he trusts that justice will take its course, especially because he spoke out publicly. He believes Nigerians will not stay silent if the case is mishandled, particularly for a poor family like his. He is not criticising the police, as he understands some cases require extensive investigations. His concern is that this case has been moving too slowly, and given the clear evidence, he feels that more decisive action should have been taken by now.