Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested Abdul Adewale Kekere-Ekun, a Nigerian fugitive wanted in the United Kingdom for murder.
Reliable sources in the commission told PREMIUM TIMES Mr. Kekere-Ekun was arrested in Lagos Thursday over identity theft-related offences only for checks by the agency to reveal that he is on the wanted list of the UK Police.
Our checks revealed that a warrant of arrest had been hanging around his neck for more than four years and that the UK Police had set aside a 5000 pounds reward for information that could lead to his arrest.
The UK Police, we understand, had difficulties tracking him down because he frequently disguises himself with several aliases ( Adebayo Dalvin James Ekun, Adeba Yo Kekere-Ekun, Adeba Yo Muta Lito Kekere-Ekun, James Dalvin, James Adebayo, Dave Bell, David Aaro Hall, Anthony Higgins, Lavelle Holder, Dalrin James, Dalvin James and Gary Edwin Plummer).
Mr. Kekere-Ekun, we gathered, is wanted in the UK for the murder of Marcus Hall, an 18-year old who was beaten and stabbed to death 14 years ago following a brawl outside a night club in Luton.
Seven other persons, who participated in the brawl that culminated in Hall’s tragic demise had been prosecuted and jailed for life but Mr. Kekere- Ekun, who featured prominently in the CCTV footage of the attack, had been elusive.
UK Police at a stage thought that he was holed up in Ghana. But the suspect managed to slip into Nigeria, where he was nabbed Thursday by operatives of the EFCC.
EFCC, sources revealed that the agency received the support of the UK National Crime Agency in the investigation that led to the arrest of the fugitive.
When contacted, a representative of the UK National Crime agency, who simply gave his name as George, confirmed that his organisation is aware of the case.
He said the case of murder against Mr. Kekere-Ekun was being investigated by the Bedfordshire Police in the UK.
When contacted, the Bedfordshire Police promised to look into the details of the case against the Nigerian and revert to PREMIUM TIMES. They are yet to do so as at the time of this report.
Those in the know say the UK High Commission has already invoked the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with Nigeria through the Extradition Act to request that the suspect be surrendered for extradition to the UK to answer to murder charges.
An extradition notice signed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, was served on the suspect Friday afternoon after he was flown into Abuja from Lagos.
No date has been fixed for hearing.
