The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Rivers State Branch, has vowed to ensure justice is served following the alleged murder of Habibatu Favour Aruwa, a final-year law student of the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Led by its Chairperson, Tamunoibuemi Life-George, a delegation of FIDA members paid a condolence visit to the bereaved family, assuring them that the association would deploy every available legal mechanism to ensure the case is diligently prosecuted.
Life-George said FIDA had alerted its network of judges, magistrates, and lawyers across the country to closely monitor the judicial process, particularly as the matter is expected to proceed to court after the release of the autopsy report.
She urged the family to remain strong despite the painful loss, assuring them that the association would pursue the matter to its logical conclusion.
Speaking during the visit, the deceased’s father, DSP Aruwa Umar, a serving police officer, said his daughter travelled to Warri, Delta State, on June 18 to visit her boyfriend, a relationship she had allegedly kept from the family.
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According to him, the tragedy came to light on June 24 after one of Habibatu’s friends informed him that she had made a distress call the previous night, crying that her boyfriend wanted to kill her, before the call abruptly ended.
DSP Umar said he tracked his daughter’s phone to Warri and mobilised security personnel, but later received confirmation from officers at B Division, Warri, that the phone had been recovered and was in police custody.
He explained that the suspect was reportedly apprehended after his landlord became suspicious when he attempted to leave the compound early in the morning while sweating profusely. The landlord allegedly discovered bloodstains and alerted the police, who found the victim’s lifeless body in the suspect’s room.
According to the bereaved father, the suspect gave conflicting statements during interrogation, initially claiming he killed Habibatu after she discovered he was married, before later alleging that she was possessed.
The case has since been transferred to the Homicide Section of the Delta State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
