A 49-year-old transporter, Saburi Lateef, has allegedly confessed to strangling and repeatedly macheting a retired civil servant, Mrs Adedotun Oluwaseun, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, over a disputed N3.45 million transaction.

Lateef, popularly known as Alhaji Oki Osan, was arrested by operatives of the Ogun State Police Command following investigations into the murder, which occurred at the deceased’s residence in the Bode-Olude area of Abeokuta.

The suspect was reportedly arrested on October 19, 2026, about eight months after the woman was found dead in her apartment.

The deceased, a retired confidential secretary with the Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), was reportedly killed after returning home from a retirement celebration organised by her colleagues.

Her body was discovered in the toilet of her residence on February 28, 2026, with multiple machete wounds.

According to accounts obtained during the investigation, the suspect allegedly gained access to the woman’s apartment through a window after removing part of the burglary-proof protection.

He was said to have been searching the apartment when the deceased returned home unexpectedly.

In his alleged confession, Lateef admitted that an argument broke out between them before he strangled her and subsequently inflicted multiple machete cuts on different parts of her body.

He claimed that the disagreement arose from N3.45 million he had allegedly entrusted to the deceased after selling his broken-down truck.

The transporter said he had known the woman for about 10 years and became closer to her after she moved into her house.

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He explained that his financial difficulties began when his truck developed a fault and he could not afford the money required to repair it.

According to him, he eventually sold the vehicle for N3.5 million and gave about N50,000 to people who had worked around the area where it was parked.

He alleged that before selling the truck, he had discussed his financial situation with the deceased, who promised to lend him money to purchase another vehicle.

Lateef claimed that he subsequently handed over the remaining N3.45 million to her, expecting that she would provide additional funds as promised.

However, he alleged that the woman repeatedly postponed the proposed loan and failed to return the money despite his demands.

He said the disagreement eventually became serious when he visited her residence to recover the money.

The suspect reportedly admitted that he had consumed alcohol before the incident but insisted that his frustration over the alleged financial dispute prompted his actions.

He also claimed that he entered the apartment through a window after removing its burglary-proof protection.

Police sources said the suspect allegedly strangled the woman when she returned and caught him inside the apartment. He subsequently used a machete to inflict several wounds on her body.

Investigators also alleged that he moved her body to the toilet after the attack.

However, the deceased’s family has disputed the suspect’s account, insisting that they were unaware of any financial dealings between him and their mother.

Her eldest daughter, Taiwo Atanda, said the family was shocked by the suspect’s alleged involvement, adding that they had never known him to be close to the deceased.

Atanda recalled that her mother visited her residence after attending a friend’s retirement celebration around the Rounder area of Abeokuta.

She said the deceased spent time with her and her children before returning home in the evening.

According to her, the family became concerned the following morning when the retired civil servant failed to make her usual calls.

She said attempts to reach her mother’s telephone were unsuccessful because it remained switched off.

Atanda subsequently contacted a woman living around the deceased’s residence and asked her to check on her mother.

The woman reportedly visited the apartment and later discovered the deceased’s body in the toilet with multiple machete wounds, with the assistance of another resident.

The daughter said the emergence of Lateef as the principal suspect was particularly shocking because neither she nor her children had seen him around their mother during family visits and celebrations.

She further disclosed that the suspect was among the people who visited the deceased’s residence to mourn after her death.

The family has called on the police and the Ogun State Government to ensure that justice is served.

The Ogun State Police Command said the breakthrough followed sustained investigations by detectives attached to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said preliminary investigations indicated that the deceased was allegedly strangled and attacked with a machete during an altercation with the suspect.

According to the police, Lateef reportedly confessed to the killing and linked the incident to financial dealings with the deceased.

The command said the suspect claimed he had entrusted N3.45 million to the woman for safekeeping, with an understanding that she would lend him N1.5 million towards purchasing another vehicle.

However, detectives were still working to corroborate his account and establish the full circumstances surrounding the murder.

The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Bode Ojajuni, commended the investigating officers for their persistence, professionalism and commitment, which led to the arrest.

The command reiterated its determination to investigate serious crimes, ensure accountability and bring anyone found culpable to justice through lawful prosecution.

Police said the suspect would be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations.

The Federal Government has unveiled a new housing initiative that could enable teachers, nurses, police officers, civil servants and other low- and middle-income Nigerians to become homeowners with an initial deposit of just N100,000.

The initiative, announced on Friday, October 30, 2026, is part of a 2,000-unit Renewed Hope Housing Development being undertaken at Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, through a partnership between the Federal Government and private-sector developers.

Under the proposed arrangement, prospective homeowners will be allowed to make an initial payment of N100,000 and spread the remaining payments over a period of up to 25 years through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN).

The scheme is expected to provide an opportunity for workers who have struggled to enter the property market because of rising housing costs and the difficulty of raising substantial deposits.

The Chief Executive Officer of Harmony Gardens and Estate Development Limited, Dr Abdullahi Saheed Mosadoluwa, announced the payment arrangement during the groundbreaking ceremony for the housing project.

He said the initiative was designed to make homeownership more accessible to ordinary Nigerians, particularly workers and individuals who may not have the financial capacity to purchase houses through conventional payment arrangements.

Mosadoluwa specifically identified teachers, nurses, police officers, civil servants, young entrepreneurs and Nigerians in the diaspora as some of the groups expected to benefit from the initiative.

The 2,000-unit housing development is being executed through a partnership involving the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Harmony Gardens and Estate Development Limited, and Metroscape Development Company Limited.

The development is expected to feature two-bedroom and three-bedroom housing units, providing different accommodation options for prospective homeowners.

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Ibeju-Lekki was selected for the development amid increasing investments and economic activities in the area, driven by major projects such as the Dangote Refinery, Lekki Deep Sea Port and Lekki Free Trade Zone.

The growing economic importance of the corridor has also increased demand for residential accommodation, making affordable housing an important consideration for workers and businesses operating in the area.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, described the project as part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to address Nigeria’s housing deficit and expand access to affordable homeownership.

He said the government’s housing strategy was built around four major priorities: increasing housing supply, improving access to mortgage financing, strengthening private-sector participation and adopting evidence-based policies.

According to the minister, increasing the number of houses available across the country would not be sufficient to address the housing crisis unless prospective buyers could also access affordable financing.

He explained that the government was working towards improving coordination among housing institutions and removing obstacles that prevent eligible Nigerians from accessing mortgage facilities.

Darma also urged the developers to maintain high construction standards, comply with environmental regulations and ensure that the houses were delivered within the agreed timeframe.

He stressed that the success of the initiative would be measured by the delivery of quality and affordable homes rather than the commencement of construction alone.

Representing Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Prince Bayo Balogun welcomed the development, describing it as an important private-sector investment capable of supporting the state’s growing housing needs.

He commended the developers for partnering with the Federal Government and encouraged more investors to participate in housing development across Lagos State.

Similarly, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Urban Development and Regional Planning, Awaji Inombek Abiante, called for proper planning and the provision of essential infrastructure around the housing estate.

He noted that housing developments should be supported by adequate transportation networks, markets and other public facilities to ensure residents can enjoy decent living conditions.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr Shuaib Belgore, described the project as another step towards expanding access to decent accommodation.

He said the ministry would provide institutional oversight and quality assurance to ensure that the development meets the required standards.

The Ibeju-Lekki project is coming amid the Federal Government’s broader Renewed Hope Housing Programme, which seeks to increase the supply of affordable homes and improve access to mortgage financing for Nigerians.

However, despite the attraction of the N100,000 initial deposit, prospective applicants will need further clarification on the actual prices of the houses, eligibility requirements, interest rates, monthly repayment obligations and other mortgage conditions.

The 25-year payment arrangement could reduce the immediate financial pressure on prospective homeowners, but the overall affordability of the scheme will depend on the cost of the properties and the terms attached to the financing.

For thousands of Nigerian workers who have long considered homeownership financially out of reach, the initiative could provide another route to acquiring residential property if the proposed terms are implemented as announced.