Police arrest suspect in UNILAG undergraduate’s drug death

Ella Ukhueleigbe

There was an indication on Wednesday that the police in Lagos State had arrested the family friend that allegedly gave a spiked drink to the 17-year-old female undergraduate of the University of Lagos, Ella Ukhueleigbe, which eventually led to her death.

A source close to the family, told GidiGlobe that the man, whose name was given simply as Tokunbo, was arrested shortly after he was discharged from the Lagos Teaching Hospital on Tuesday.

The source said that Tokunbo was also admitted to the hospital because of the complication that arose from the drug that killed Ella.

“Apparently the drug was not a sleeping tablet. I learnt that it was a drug to enhance sexual libido. Tokunbo sneaked it into Ella‘s drink and he also took it. We have a theory that he wanted to have a sexual encounter with the girl without her consent,” the source said.

Our correspondents also gathered that the family are also angry that Ella was not taken to the hospital in time.

A family member, who pleaded anonymity said, “They did not take her to hospital as soon as she developed a negative reaction to whatever drug Tokunbo gave her. We learnt that she was already foaming in the mouth before they reluctantly took her to LUTH. By that time it was already too late,” she said.

Ella, who was a former student of Air Force Secondary School, was also the only girl in a family of three children. It was gathered that the family had decided not to do anything before the release of an autopsy report, which they hoped to use as evidence against the suspect in police custody.

Ella, a second year student of Marine Sciences, was allegedly drugged by Tokunbo last week Tuesday. The drug eventually led to her death.

The Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Olukayode Amund, had told GidiGlobe on Tuesday that Ella lived in the institution‘s Moremi Hall until her death
Spokesman of the state police command, Mr.Frank Mba, said he had still not been briefed on the development.