Ayinde Kareem/

Lugard Avenue at Old Ikoyi, in Lagos, is a paradise that is home to a mix of the city’s highbrows and captains of industry.

Among the residents on a quiet cul-de-sac compound on Lugard Avenue is former interim President of Nigeria, Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan.

This peaceful place has also been a Camelot to the Cameroonian Managing Director of Maersk Nigeria Limited, Mr Gildas Tohouo, with Bernadette – his Hungarian wife and three lovely children.

Once in awhile the wealthy residents treat themselves to cosy parties with friends and associates.

Such a party was held on the evening of December 8 by an expatriate living in the same building with Mr and Mrs Tohouo.

That night, the neighbourhood lost its serenity. Not because of the party. It was just a night that the devil chose to bring trouble to paradise.

A building maintenance man cum electrician engaged three months ago was out to hatch a murder plan.

He had an accomplice in a guard on the premises.

According to police investigators, the party ended at about 11.30 pm. Thereafter, Mr and Mrs Tohouo returned to their apartment to meet a power outage while there was light all around.

As they were contemplating the next step to take, they heard a knock on the door.

The person at the door turned out to be the maintenance man cum electrician.

He said he wanted to assist in fixing the fault in their apartment.

The couple accepted the offer and allowed the man and a guard who was with him to come in because they were well known to them.

Once they stepped in, all hell broke loose.

They allegedly pounced on the man and his wife.

Mr and Mrs Tohouo were stabbed mercilessly.

Investigations have revealed that Mrs Tohouo was also forced to drink acid, and then suffocated with a pillow inside her room.

Before then, the attackers had forced her to make an electronic money transfer to them.

The attackers left the apartment thinking that their victims were dead.

Mrs Tohouo succumbed to her injuries, but her husband survived.

He sent out a distress message that brought security agents to the scene in droves.

Two suspects identified as Ade Akanbi and Olamide Adegoke were found hiding in the compound.

They were promptly arrested by the police.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP), Hakeem Odumosu, later visited the scene, as homicide detectives cordoned off the area.

The arrested suspects were taken to the State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Yaba, for discreet investigation.

Reacting to the murder, a sympathizer, Damola Adejuwon, posted on Facebook: “Oh no there are monsters in this world. May Bernadette’s soul rest in peace and may the 3 young children and her husband she left behind be comforted by our heavenly father. Her role as APEEF vice president at Lycee Francais Louis Pasteur will always be appreciated.”

The late Mrs Bernadette Tohouo was the Vice-President, Association Petite Enfance, Enfance et Famille (APEEF). It’s a parents association and a registered charity.

She also served as the Playpen Officer of the Sailing and House Committee of the Lagos Yacht Club.