The Fleet Commander,
Western Naval Command, Apapa, Lagos State, Rear Admiral Daniel Ikoli, has
allegedly shot himself dead in his residence in the Apapa area.
It was learnt that a service pistol, expended and live
ammunition, were recovered at the scene by police detectives who visited the
residence.
It was gathered that he lived with his house boy. His wife
stays in Abuja, while his children are schooling abroad.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the commander, a member of the
presidential committee investigating the $15bn arms deal, left his office on
Tuesday around 1pm, on the grounds that he was ill.
Around 5am on Wednesday, the house boy reportedly heard a
gunshot from his room. On getting to the spot, he found him dead and raised the
alarm.
A source close to Okoli disclosed to our correspondent that
he had been managing depression and an ailment for some time, adding that it
was not impossible that he committed suicide.
The source, however, did not disclose the nature of the
ailment.
He said, “He was Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT, and
was later appointed into the presidential committee that probed the arms deal.
He was very lively and intelligent.
“But for some time now, he had been battling an illness and
had lost weight. He had also become reserved lately, which was unlike him. He
usually complained about the high dollar rate and unavailability of foreign
exchange because he had children studying abroad.
“He left the office on Tuesday afternoon after complaining
that he was not feeling fine. I was shocked this morning when I learnt he shot
himself.”
Another source stated that bullets hit Okoli on the chest
and he bled to death, adding that three expended bullets were found in his
apartment.
He said, “The house boy said he heard a gunshot and was
alarmed. He later went into Okoli’s room and found him in a pool of blood. His
wife is in Abuja and his children school abroad. His aides usually leave after
taking him home from office.
“Three bullets were seen in the room. No one can really tell
what happened.
“He was a nice and intelligent officer. He was the one who
spearheaded the renovations of BEECROFT when he was the commander.”
A competent source disclosed to PUNCH Metro that 17 rounds
of 9mm live ammunition and three expended shells were recovered at the scene.
“A CZ 999 Scorpion
Pistol, B/no. 17111 was also found. No suicide note was found. His corpse has
been deposited in the Nigeria Navy Reference Hospital,” the source added.
The spokesperson for the Western Naval Command, Lieutenant
Commander Chinwe Umar, said in a statement tagged, ‘Domestic Accident Involving
a Naval Officer,’ that the cause of Ikoli’s death had yet to be known, adding
that the police had commenced investigation into the case.
It said, “In the early hours of Wednesday, April 5, 2017,
gunshots were heard in the vicinity where Rear Admiral Teikumo Daniel Ikoli
resided in Apapa, Lagos. When his room was opened, he was found dead.
“Police have been invited and investigation is ongoing. When
the situation is clearer, an update will be given.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP
Olarinde Famous-Cole, said investigation had commenced, adding that the
deceased had been deposited in a mortuary for autopsy.
He said, “We are investigating the incident to get a clearer
picture. Either murder or suicide, we sympathise with the Nigerian Navy as we
carry out investigations into the incident.”
By Afeez Hanafi
