Lawyers Petition IGP, Delta AG Over Gruesome Murder of UNIPORT Final-Year Law Student Allegedly Stabbed 58 Times
Human rights advocates and public interest lawyers, J.J. Iyieke & Co., have petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Delta State, demanding a transparent investigation and expedited prosecution over the alleged murder of Miss Abibatu Favour Aruwa, a 21-year-old final-year law student of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
In separate petitions dated 24 July 2026 and 27 July 2026, the law firm described the killing as “wicked, deliberate and premeditated,” urging authorities to ensure that justice is neither delayed nor compromised.
According to the petitions, Miss Aruwa travelled from Choba, Rivers State, to Warri, Delta State, on 23 June 2026 to visit Mr. Adedamola Michael Oyewole at his residence in the Edjeba area of Warri. It was alleged that an altercation later ensued between the two, during which the suspect allegedly stabbed the deceased multiple times.
The petitioners stated that a distress call was made by the landlord on 24 June 2026, prompting police operatives to visit the scene where they found Miss Aruwa in a pool of blood. She was subsequently confirmed dead at the General Hospital, Warri.
An autopsy reportedly conducted at the General Hospital, Warri, allegedly revealed that the deceased sustained 58 stab wounds to different parts of her body, including the neck, stomach and thighs.
The law firm further stated that preliminary police investigations indicated that the altercation may have arisen after the deceased allegedly discovered that the suspect, who had reportedly proposed to her, was married.
According to the petition, the suspect has been arrested and is currently in the custody of the Delta State Police Command while investigations continue.
J.J. Iyieke & Co., acting on behalf of the family of the deceased and concerned citizens, called on the IGP to ensure a diligent and transparent investigation and requested that the Delta State Ministry of Justice take over the prosecution of the matter to avoid any possibility of compromise.
The petitioners urged the Attorney-General of Delta State to assign a senior state counsel to handle the matter personally and ensure that charges are filed promptly before a competent court.
They also requested that critical evidence, including the autopsy report, witness statements and the alleged murder weapon, be properly preserved to ensure effective prosecution.
Describing the death as a national tragedy, the petitioners noted that Miss Aruwa, a 500-level law student, was only weeks away from graduation when her life was cut short. The incident, they said, has generated widespread outrage among law students, members of the legal profession and Nigerians generally.
The petitioners stressed that the case should be accorded priority, insisting that justice must be served for the deceased, her family and the wider society.
