Akwa Ibom ex-guber aspirant murdered in Ogun State

A former Accord Party’s governorship aspirant in Akwa Ibom State was shot dead on Wednesday at his newly opened hotel in Mowe, Ogun State.

The deceased, Okon Iyanam, was a former Executive Director, Marketing Communication of Globacom, and business mogul before joining politics.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the tragic death of my brother, Okon, in the early hours of Wednesday, June 27,” said Victor Iyanam, a former Attorney-General in the state and brother to deceased.

Unknown gunmen reportedly stormed Iyanam’s hotel in the early hours of Wednesday during a birthday party and shot him at close range in the neck region.

“They asked for the owner. When he was eventually identified, he was shot at close range in the neck region. He stood no chance. He died instantly,” Victor Iyanam said.

“Okon Papa, as we called him, had just recently opened his new Heritage Hotels and Resorts in Mowe, Ogun State where he spent most of his time trying to stabilise the management and sales techniques.

“While a birthday party was going on in the hotel, some men, suspected to be either armed robbers or hired assassins crashed into the place at about 12:30a.m. with sporadic gunshots.”

In 2012, the deceased petitioned the then Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, over alleged unlawful arrest and threat to his life.