The family of allegedly murdered and dismembered Techla Ekeh, has appealed for accelerated justice delivery in the murder case.
Techla, 35, was allegedly murdered and dismembered in March 7.
The accused was one Ediri Igbudu.
Her younger brother, Justus Eke, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
Justus alleged that Techla’s alleged murderer, who had been a friend of the family for over 18 years, dismembered her and buried the parts in different graves in Lagos State.
He said that though the police had arrested the suspect, they had not done enough to prosecute the case.
Justus said that the police demanded N2.8 million to carry out a DNA test on the body parts recovered so far, to ascertain if the parts belonged to Techla.
He also alleged that the police demanded N250,000 to investigate five bank accounts the deceased had.
He claimed that the suspect tampered with funds in the accounts.
Justus said that the family members could not afford the money requested by the police.
According to him, the family members are facing many challenges, including loss of their mother two months after Techla’s death, as well as illness by Techla’s eldest sister, who was diagnosed with cancer.
“We lost our mother due to her daughter’s death. Our sister is diagnosed with cancer.
“The two persons who carried the responsibilities of the family on their shoulders are no more,” he said.
He called on governments to ensure justice in the case.
”My sister’s body was dismembered. Her head is nowhere to be found, the suspect has not said where the head is.
“We don’t even know where her hands are, and one of her legs.
“Police are asking us to run a DNA test. They are asking for N2.8 million to identify my sister’s body. Where do we get such money from?
“If this is a government case as they say, let the government help us. We are begging. We need justice,” he said.
Justus said that the police also requested the family to secure the services of a lawyer to help in prosecuting the case.
According to him, the lawyer who offered the cheapest services is asking for N500,000.
Reacting, the Spokesperson for the police command in Lagos State, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said that the demand for money to carry out a DNA test was normal.
He said that the police did not have facilities to carry out such a test.
Hundeyin also said that the police did not have the financial capacity to carry out the DNA test as there were many of such cases the police were handling.
He said that the demand for money to investigate bank accounts was also in order.
“For a bank account to be investigated, you have to obtain a court order, which costs N50,000,” he said.
Also speaking on the matter, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, Waheed Ayinllara, said that the police had arrested the suspect and charged him to court which remanded him in a custodial facility.
Ayinllara said that a DNA test on body parts found would help in further investigation.
He said that police could not afford the cost and did not have the facilities to carry out such a test.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
