LAGOS — The corpse of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain, Mr Al-Mustaim Abaniwonda, who drowned Monday, was finally recovered Wednesday.
LAGOS — The corpse of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain, Mr Al-Mustaim Abaniwonda, who drowned Monday, was finally recovered Wednesday.
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The bloated body, as gathered, was recovered at about 8 a.m. behind Bonny Camp, after a 40-hour search.
The deceased who was PDP Senatorial candidate for Lagos East in the April 9, 2011 National Assembly elections but lost to the incumbent, Senator Gbenga Ashafa of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, met his death after he allegedly jumped into the lagoon at Marina, Lagos.
Late Al-Mustaim Abaniwonda
His widow, Kudirat, however, said her husband slipped and fell inside the lagoon as he was about urinating, debunking report that he committed suicide.
Vanguard gathered that the remains of Abaniwonda, who was a management consultant was sighted first by local divers contracted by family members, who subsequently, contacted policemen attached to the Marine division.
Immediately, the body was transferred into a waiting police van. Spokesman for the Ports Police Command, Mr Sirajo Hamidu Mada, said the corpse was deposited at the general hospital for post mortem examination. Investigation, according to Sirajo, a Deputy Superintendent of Police was still on-going.
But another version of the report said the body was taken to his residence at Victoria Garden City, where plans were reportedly on for his interment at the Victoria Court, a privately run cemetery along the Lekki-Epe Expressway.
The family, which described report that Abaniwonda committed suicide as a blatant lie, said drowning himself would have been the last resort as he had phobia for water.
The late Abaniwonda, whose name was among the list of 10 nominees sent to President Goodluck Jonathan for consideration as minister from Lagos State, was aged 56.
ACN, Ashafa express shock
Meanwhile, the ACN, Lagos chapter and Senator Gbenga Ashafa, representing Lagos East under the party, have expressed shock and sadness over what they termed, “sudden death” of Abaniwonda
Contacted on the development, Publicity Secretary of ACN, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, said he was short of words but sent ACN’s condolence to the family, praying that God will grant the deceased an eternal rest.
On his part, Ashafa said he got the news from a newspaper and described the death as “very, very unfortunate and pathetic occurrence,” wondering why a “promising and amiable man with bright future could have his life aborted in such a manner.” He prayed his soul to rest in peace.
The late Abaniwonda was an indigene of Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State.
He was a senatorial candidate for Lagos East under the Alliance for Democracy AD and the ACN before crossing over to the PDP in 2003 after he sought to contest the senatorial district’s ticket on ACN’s platform but was asked to step down for the eventual winner of the ticket, Hon. Olorunnibe Mamora.
Abaniwonda held a first degree from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He was the founder and managing partner of Alade Abaniwonda & Partners.
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