Frustrated Landlord Hangs Himself In Ibadan After NEPA Refused to Pay Him His Entitlements

A landlord identified as Popoola Adepoju, hanged
himself in Idi-Ose community, along Akan Road, in the
Ona Ara council area of Ibadan.
The 48-year-old was reportedly found dangling from a
rope tied to a ceiling fan in his room, with a three-page
suicide note on the table. The widow of the father of
three, who worked with the defunct National Electric
Power Authority, reportedly found the corpse after she
returned home on Tuesday.
She reportedly told the police that her husband left
NEPA in Abeokuta two years ago but his entitlement
had yet to be paid, adding that he had started a cement
business on small scale before the incident.
Punch Metro reports that family members of the
deceased refused to hand over the suicide note to the
policemen who came to investigate the case. However,
after the intervention of the Chairman of the Idi-Ose
community, Taiwo Alimi, the note was taken to the
Akanran Police Division.
The Divisional Police Officer at the station, Aliko
Dankoli, was said to have later given permission to the
family to proceed with his burial. He was laid to rest in
his house.
Residents said Adepoju first sent his children on
errands before taking his own life. A member of the Four
Square Gospel Church, where the deceased worshipped
with his family, said Adepoju attended Monday morning
service in the church and never gave a sign of
depression.
He said:
“Adepoju was a devout Christian, pious and
talented. He was always offering useful
suggestions whenever the welfare committee of
the zone met. What could have informed this
action is unclear. We were together at the early
morning service at our church on Monday. We
usually have such a service on the 1st, 2nd and
3rd of every month. When I saw him last Monday
after the evening service, he never gave any hint
that he was contemplating suicide.”
A landlord in the area, who did not give his name,
however, said the deceased was going through a
difficult period. He explained that Adepoju had wanted
to sell his Honda car for N250,000, but only got a buyer
who was ready to pay N150,000.
He said the victim had planned to buy a smaller car to
be used as taxi to supplement what he made from his
small cement business.
“He said he wanted to sell the car so he could
buy a small vehicle which he would be using as a
cab to serve as a sustaining means of livelihood
for his family. He, however, said the amount
being offered was too small. He sometimes
complained that things were no longer as they
were before he was disengaged from work. It was
a surprise when we discovered that this
unfortunate incident happened,” said the
neighbour.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu,
confirmed the death.