The police in Lagos State have begun investigations into the death of a member of the Presidential Committee on the Probe of Arms Deal, Rear Admiral Daniel Ikoli, who was early Wednesday found dead in his Apapa, Lagos State home with bullet wounds.
Though the details of the death were unknown, there were concerns that the deceased naval chief might have been shot dead.
There were also reports that the deceased might have locked himself up in his apartment and shot himself
Policemen from Area B police station said that the deceased naval officer’s body was found in a locked room in the apartment.
Ikoli was until his death the Fleet Commander of the Western Naval Command and was a former commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS Beecroft).
A source in the Nigerian Navy, who spoke with Metro described the deceased as a very “nice officer”.
A police source at Area B, who spoke with Metro under anonymity, said “anything is possible. Murder can be stage-managed but with what we saw, he could have killed himself “ .
It was gathered that Ikoli stayed alone in the apartment as his wife stayed in Abuja, while his children were said to be schooling overseas.
It was gathered that the late Ikoli was taken home on Tuesday afternoon by his naval assistant, after he complained of not feeling well.
There were also reports that the deceased had in the past complained about his safety as a result of his membership of the presidential committee .
An aide of the late Ikoli, who was with him at home but in another room, also told the police that he heard gunshots but did not know who actually pulled the trigger.
The aide told the police that he was scared when he heard the gunshot and that he took cover for fear of being killed.
The spokesperson of the naval command, Lieutenant Commander Chinwe Umar, confirmed the death to newsmen and added that investigations were ongoing.
According to Umar, “In the early hours of Wednesday, gunshots were heard in the vicinity where Rear Admiral Teikumo Daniel Ikoli resides in Apapa, Lagos.
“When his room was opened, he was found dead,” the naval spokesperson said in the statement.
He said that the police had been invited for investigation into how the naval chief died, adding that more “updates would be given when the situation is clearer.”
Ikoli was Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT and was later appointed into the presidential committee on the probe of arms deal before he became Fleet Commander, Western Naval Command.
Rear Admiral Ikoli was a member of the presidential committee on Arms procurement and was given special promotion at the completion of the committees assignment.
President Muhammadu Buhari specifically approved the promotion following the contributions at the probe panel and was decorated last December by the Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas.
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