Foreign

US based Nigerian murders Michael Essien, 2year -old son over debt

Published

3 years ago

September 23, 2022

Vida Essel-Lamptey

US Based Nigerian murders Michael Essien, 2year -old son over debt

Bolanle Fadairo, a Nigerian living in the US, was arrested by Houston police for reportedly shooting another Nigerian, Michael Essien to death and abandoning the victim’s two-year-old son to die in a hot car.

After being detained on September 21st, the 38-year-old suspect was charged with two counts of murder and one count of tampering with evidence in relation to the deaths of Michael Essien and his son.

Fadairo is accused of shooting Essien multiple times after an argument outside a strip center in the 5500 block of El Camino Del Rey and Chimney Rock on Tuesday, September 20.

According to Houston Police Department press release, investigators learned the victim met Fadairo at the location and the two spoke briefly, even argued before he then shot the victim.

Fadairo then allegedly entered Essien’s black Chevrolet Traverse and fled the scene with the boy in a car seat in the third row of the SUV.

Nearly five hours later, the victim’s wife called the police to report her husband and son were missing. The woman was able to provide information about her husband’s vehicle which led to its discovery roughly 1 mile away from the site of the incident.

Charging documents said the car was locked, and the windows were rolled up as outdoor temperatures reached 93 degrees.

Officers say they found the SUV about 7:10 p.m, they broke the vehicle’s window and found the 2-year-old victim unresponsive inside.

The cause of death of the boy has yet to be determined. Police suspect the boy died from heat exhaustion, according to the probable cause statement.

Fadairo allegedly gave police a statement “admitting he shot Essien, states Essien owed him money, claims no knowledge of boy in rear seat. Admits deleting incriminating text messages off his cellphone between himself and Essien,” according to the probable cause statement. Investigators also said Fadairo admitted that he had known Essien for about 30 years.