Gospel singer found dead in Edo hotel

A female gospel singer, identified as Yvonne Omoarebokhae, has been reportedly found dead in a hotel in Benin, the Edo State capital.

The incident was said to have occurred last Friday in the hotel located on the Government Reservation Area.

The hotel was said to be owned by a former lawmaker in the Edo State House of Assembly.

It was learnt that late Omoraebohae, said to be a graduate of the Benson Idahosa University, had been invited by to perform at a church programme Warri, Delta State, by a Lagos-based pastor, Apostle Psalm Okpe, who she reportedly met on the  Facebook.

Okpe of the Fresh Oil Ministry was said to have lodged the deceased in the hotel upon her arrival.

The husband of the deceased, Odion, said his wife had chatted with the pastor on the social media platform for several months, where he (pastor) allegedly told her that the she would also perform at other programmes scheduled to hold in Asaba and Benin.

It was also gathered that the cleric had allegedly hinted of plans to take the deceased to South Africa for another programme.

But Odion said he was shocked when he received a call later in the evening that his wife had been found dead.

He said his wife had phoned him at about 10am on the same day, saying that she would soon return home.

According to him, the police had initially urged him to return home, but later informed him that his wife was confirmed dead at the Central Hospital, Benin, and her remains deposited in a morgue.

He, however, said he had yet to see her corpse and had not known what led to his wife’s sudden death.

Odion said, “At about 9.30pm, the police used my wife’s phone to call and invited me to report at the Airport Road Police Station.

“I waited for more than two hours at the police station until the police asked me to go home. But I insisted on knowing the whereabouts of my wife.

“The DPO later told me that my wife was picked up in a hotel in the GRA and rushed to the Benin Central Hospital where she was confirmed dead.

“I have yet to see the corpse of my wife to know what happened and who is responsible for her death. We have a three-year-old baby at home.”

It was, however, learnt that the pastor had been arrested and was helping police with the investigation.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Chris Ezike, who confirmed the incident on Tuesday said the matter was under investigation.

Ezike also said a post mortem would be carried out to ascertain the cause of death, adding that the case had been transferred to the State Department Criminal Investigation.

When asked if any arrest had been made, the CP said, “It (case) is under investigation. The man (pastor) is married and the woman (deceased) is married.

“Not until a post mortem is conducted, we cannot conclude what happened. I have asked the matter to be transferred to the  SDCI.”

Punch