The suspect, identified as Fatai, also known as “Sparton,” was arrested months after the stabbing incident, which reportedly occurred at Precious Light Hotel in the Badaru area of Lagos State.
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a hotel barman, who had been on the run since May 2025 over the alleged killing of a resident, Femi Apata.
The suspect, identified as Fatai, also known as “Sparton,” was arrested months after the stabbing incident, which reportedly occurred at Precious Light Hotel in the Badaru area of Lagos State.
SaharaReporters gathered that the police placed the suspect on a watchlist shortly after the incident in May 2025, following his disappearance and after SaharaReporters which raised an alarm on the incident and allegations of the police culpability.
“He has been arrested now, after fleeing for so long and he is currently being held at Panti Police division in Lagos. The Police worked alongside the hotel manager who assisted in the period of looking for him,” a family member of the late Femi told SaharaReporters.
The family is now calling on the police authorities to ensure that the case is handled expeditiously.
“We are calling on police authorities to ensure that the case does not drag because already, the fact that the culprit escaped means that we have been on this development for many months,” another source told SaharaReporters.
Previously, SaharaReporters reported that tears, anger, and unanswered questions filled the air in Maza Maza, Lagos, as family members and residents mourned the death of a young man, Femi Apata, who was allegedly brutally murdered—an incident they claimed was being swept under the carpet by the Nigerian police.
Femi was reportedly stabbed to death in the early hours of Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Precious Light Hotel in the Badaru area. According to eyewitnesses, the hotel’s barman, identified as Fatai, also known as “Sparton,” was the main suspect. The killing was believed to have taken place between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., while most residents in the area were asleep.
A video seen by SaharaReporters showed the victim lying lifeless in a pool of his own blood.
“He should have been home, not in that hotel. He had a future,” a grieving relative said through tears. “Instead, we found him lifeless, dumped like trash.”
It was alleged that hotel staff failed to intervene during the incident and later cleaned up bloodstains at the scene. The victim’s body was also reportedly moved to the gate of a house opposite the hotel in what the family described as an attempt to cover up the crime.
The family further accused the police of negligence, claiming that despite the seriousness of the case, the hotel owner and manager—who were initially arrested—were released within hours by a police officer identified as Officer Lekan and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Badaru area.
“Many of us saw it. Everyone knows the barman stabbed him,” a family member said. “So why were the hotel staff not arrested? Why has nothing been done?”
Although the case was reportedly transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Homicide Division, Panti, Yaba, the family alleged that only the case file was forwarded, while the hotel owner and manager were not handed over, further deepening suspicions of a police cover-up.
The family also alleged that they were forced to provide logistics for the police during the investigation.
“We paid for everything — just so they could do their jobs,” a brother of the deceased lamented.
“They confirmed he was stabbed, but still, nothing has happened.”
It was stated that the hotel owner claimed in an interview that he was not present at the hotel when the incident occurred.
“He said he had provided the police with the absconded suspect’s phone number—but police reportedly said they were unable to track the suspect due to lack of funds.”
“Is that the kind of country we live in? Where a killer can walk free because the police don’t have airtime or data?” a close family member of the victim asked, trembling with rage. “It’s humiliating. It’s heartbreaking.”
The delay in justice has reportedly prevented the family from burying Femi, as their culture forbids keeping a young person’s corpse in the mortuary for an extended period.
“The targeted places the murderer stabbed him… it looked like an assassination,” a family source said quietly. “This wasn’t just a bar fight. He was hunted.”
Community members have continued to question the handling of the case.
“Why haven’t they locked down the hotel? Why release the owner and manager without proper remand?” another resident asked.
As the family awaits justice, they have appealed to authorities, the media, and the public not to allow the case to be forgotten.
“All we ask is justice,” the family pleaded, insisting that Femi’s death should not be in vain.