RETROSPECT: IBO MUSICIAN WHO WAS MURDERED IN LAGOS

ISRAEL NWAOBA NJEMANZE was the leader of a three-man band called the “THREE NIGHT WIZARDS”. The other members were AMOS KAYODE and MICHAEL ADEYEMO. They were guitarists.

Israel had been a member of a band where he was the composer and lead vocalist. But he felt he was not adequately remunerated for his effort, hence he formed his own band “THE THREE NIGHT WIZARDS”.

ISRAEL NWAOBA NJEMANZE

The band used to entertain on radio and in night clubs in Lagos. The band was very popular, so patronage was encouraging. As money continued to roll in SAMUEL JEGEDE, who was a businessman, was brought in as the band patron and treasurer.

In the early hours of 7^th April 1995, the dismembered body of ISRAELNJEMANZE was found on the rail line between Yaba and Mushin. The body was dissected into 18 pieces. Some of the vital organs were missing. Israel was from Owerri in present day Imo State.

JULIANA NJEMANZE (widow of the Ibo singer with her baby – 1957)

The police led by Detective Sgt. ABODERIN swung into action. In all, 16 people were arranged before a Yaba magistrates’ court charged with the murder of ISRAEL NJEMANZE. They were AMOS KAYODE, SHITTU BADA, RAMONU AKANBI, ROBINSON ORIOTA, KWASI GERALD, AJAYI OMUNORAN, LASISI ISHOLA, SAMUEL JEGEDE, MICHAEL ADEYEMO, CYRIL ANIKWE, LAWAL DADA, LAMIDI AYINDE, PETER NWANGWU, DADA OWOLABI, LAYE ADEWOLE and YESUFU BALOGUN.

The Three Night Wizard

Ironically, the prosecutor Mr. G.K. AMACHERE fingered SAMUEL JEGEDE who was brought in as the band’s patron and treasurer, as “The brain behind the murder”.

After preliminary investigations at the Yaba court, 8 suspects were set free while 8 were committed for further trial at the Assizes of the Lagos High Court. They were: PETER NWANGWU a fitter, MICHAEL ADEYEMO a guitarist, CYRIL ANIKWE a soldier, SAMUEL JEGEDE a petty trader, LAWAL DADA a palm wine tapper, DADA OWOLABI a nursing attendant, LAYE ADEWOLE and LAMIDI AYINDE. They were arranged before a 12-man Jury.

At the trial, evidence was led to prove (1) that there had been a misunderstanding within the band arising from misappropriation of fund (2) That SAMUEL JEGEDE had threatened to kill NJEMANZE several times in the past (3) that ISRAEL NJEMANZE was last seen alive in the night of 7 April 1955 at house number 8 Adegbite street Mushin (4) NJEMANZE was actually killed at 8 Adegbite street Mushin and his body was dragged to the rail line where his body was cut into pieces so it would look as if he was crushed by a moving train (5) That PETER NWANGWU was the owner of the blood stained knife (6) That when a pathologist, Dr. UKU, exchanged the blood, he confirmed that it was human blood (7) That SAMUEL JEGEDE who described himself as a trader was actually a drug peddler.

Consequently, the 12-man found 6 of the 8 accused persons, which included SAMUEL JEGEDE, guilty of the murder of ISRAEL NJEMANZE and they were hanged at the broad street prisons in Lagos.