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Thisday editor found dead in hotel

Posted by By TONY ICHEKU, Maiduguri on 2007/08/03 | Views: 645 |

Thisday editor found dead in hotel


An Editor of Thisday Newspapers, Mr. Samuel Famakinwa was yesterday found dead in a hotel room, 24 hours after he gave up the ghost.

An Editor of Thisday Newspapers, Mr. Samuel Famakinwa was yesterday found dead in a hotel room, 24 hours after he gave up the ghost.

Famakinwa, a deputy editor of Thisday arrived Maiduguri Wednesday via a domestic flight from Abuja as guest to Governor Ali Modu Sheriff.

Mr. Famakinwa was later found lifeless in room 245 of the International Hotel Maiduguri, and later certified dead by a medical doctor at the state's specialist hospital, Dr. Garba Adamu after security officials forced their way into the room occupied by the deceased.

The medical doctor said cardiac arrest may have killed the journalist, even though he recommended autopsy to ascertain the actual cause of the death.

A statement signed by the Thisday Managing Director, Mr. Eniola Bello 'Famakinwa was on a private visit to the governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sherrif. He had asked for a two-day leave from his editor to enable him take some time to rest. Nothing was heard from him until the Editor, Mr. Simon Kolawole, was contacted late last night by Famakinwa's wife, who said she had not been able to reach her husband who had traveled up North".

According to him 'in a bid to locate his deputy, Kolawole immediately contacted several Thisday correspondents, including our Borno Bureau Chief, Mr. Mike Olugbode. On making inquiries from Government House, our correspondent, who was unaware of Famakinwa's visit, was informed by the governor's Chief Press Secretary, Malam Usman Ciroma, that Famakinwa was in town as a guest of Senator Sherrif. Ciroma told our correspondent that he was with Famakinwa at Lake Chad Club Wednesday night.

Several calls and text messages from the wife to the late deputy editor, along with calls from many others including some government officials in Borno State were not responded to the deceased, following which concerns were raised and a team of policemen from the homicide unit of the Borno police command were drafted to ascertain the state of the journalist before he was found dead.

It was gathered that Mr. Famakinwa arrived Maiduguri on board a domestic flight from Lagos , which arrived the Borno Capital on Wednesday evening, based on the flight's normal scheduled.
The late Famakinwa, it was confirmed, was in the state following invitation by governor Ali Sheriff for a special assignment.

Reliable sources said, Mr. Famakinwa was, on arrival, very healthy and was with the director of Press to governor Sheriff, Usman Chiroma at a relaxation point called Lake Chad Club-on Wednesday evening, before an official vehicle belonging to the government house drove him to his hotel about 11:30pm.
It was however gathered that the deceased was in contact with one Viola Bobmanuel, through his GSM at 1:02am on Thursday, July, 26, 2007 which was apparently, his last contact.

Saturday Sun leant that, numerous missed calls including that of the Borno Deputy Governor and text messages, raising concerns on the deceased quietness were recorded on the GSM Mobile Phone, found with the Late deputy editor after he died with his face on ground as he laid lifeless beside the bed in his room. Sources told our correspondent that, the deputy editor may have died many hours before his body was discovered, after his silence attracted curiosity.

Our correspondent reports that the purpose of Mr. Famakinwa to Borno State was not known at the time of filling this report, while governor Sheriff who was said to have invited the late editor was also out of the state, since Tuesday, a day before the deceased arrived the state.

Saturday Sun further gathered that, head of the homicide unit of the criminal investigation department, CID, Borno Police commend, ASP Sukuji Bandawol who led detectives to Famakinwa's hotel room, may be leading investigation on the cause death.

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