Operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT) yesterday arrested former Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Alhaji Rafiu Akanni Olorunwa. The police also apprehended the “most notorious assassin in the South-West,” Adeola Williams aka Ade Lawyer (39).
The alleged assassin, Ade Lawyer, was said to have been on police ‘Wanted List’ for five years. According to police, Ade Lawyer allegedly confessed to have assassinated many people in the past, including Hamburger, a union chairman in Oshodi Lagos, Baba Jide Dosumu aka Mados in Ebute Meta Lagos, Salawe in Ajah, Lagos, Ganiyu Asaro and four others at Badore area of Lagos. He said that at the Badore area of Lagos, he sprayed bullets into a car and killed five occupants.
He was alleged to have been arrested along with Olorunwa. Olorunwa was alleged to have hired Ade Lawyer to kill his last victim. The hunt for the men followed the murder of Ganiyu Ayinla aka Piero, Personal Assistant (PA) to Azeez Adekunle Lawal aka Kunle Poly on Lagos Island on January 23.
A police source said: “The suspect, Ade Lawyer, is a native of Isasi village, Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area of Ogun State. The IG, Ibrahim Idris, deployed IRT operatives, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abba Kyari, to go after the killer. “On February 14, the professional assassin, who had been on the Most Wanted List of the Nigeria Police for over five years, Adeola Williams aka Ade Lawyer, was arrested in his newly rented house in Akure, Ondo State by IRT operatives.”
A police source said over 40 AK47 rifles were discovered in the suspect’s house. According to the police, the suspect allegedly confessed to the assassination of Ganiyu Ayinla in Lagos State and other assassinations in the South-West. He allegedly confessed that Olorunwa hired him to assassinate Azeez Adekunle Lawal for N1.5 million.
Police also claimed that Ade Lawyer confessed to have received N500,000 advance payment while he was to collect N1 million after the assassination. The police said: “Although he confessed that their actual target was Azeez Adekunle Lawal, who was in the same car with the late Ganiyu. But Lawal miraculously escaped with bullet wounds.
He stated further that Rafiu Olorunwa Akanni who hired them for the job refused to give them the balance of their N1 million because they killed the PA of the main person he sent them for. Thus, Ade Lawyer traced the driver of Mr. Olorunwa and confiscated his Black Hyundai jeep from the driver and called Mr. Olonrunwa that, they would release his jeep after he pays them their N1 million balance as they needed to run and hide until the heat comes down. They said that two of their boys had been arrested by the police. “He further confessed that Olorunwa has been calling him to be very careful and hide very well as his members had been arrested.
He also mentioned many other victims he assassinated in the past which include one Hamburger, a union chairman in Oshodi Lagos, Baba Jide Dosumu aka Mados in Ebute Meta Lagos, Salawe in Ajah Lagos, Ganiyu Asaro and four others in Badore area of Lagos. He said that at the Badore area of Lagos, he sprayed bullets in a car and killed five occupants.”
Olorunwa (51) indicted by Ade Lawyer was equally arrested about 3p.m. yesterday at Ebute Meta area of Lagos by IRT operatives. But one of his close associates described Olorunwa’s arrest as a “set up”. He said: “Olorunwa was arrested because he gave one of his vehicles to some people who used it to commit crime.” When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Chike Oti, said he was not aware of the arrest.