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Retired Air Force officer, Air Vice-Marshal (AVM) Olufunsho Martins, had just returned from the United Kingdom, to attend the burial of a relative, when he [Martins] and his driver met their untimely death after their Ford Explorer Sports Utility Vehicle ( SUV ) plunged into the Lagoon on Saturday.
A source very close to the family who spoke with TheNewsGuru.com said Martins was heading home [Funsho Martins Avenue, Park View Estate], when the accident happened.
Information reaching TheNewsGuru.com has it that the driver of the late AVM was drunk, ‘a factor several of the relatives feel could be the major cause of the accident,’ says the source.
“We are really disturbed, not all his children have heard of his death, some of them are abroad.
“We were told his identity was revealed through an identity card found inside his vehicle, which was taken to the Nigerian Airforce hospital, Ikeja.”
“We have since gone to see his body in the mortuary, as at yesterday, you need to see the large crowd of sympathisers who visited his Park View Estate residence to commiserate with us when news of his death filtered round. It is all because he his a very kind and generous man, no one would have thought his end will come this early”
Another cousin of the deceased who also spoke on the condition of anonymity said his death has plunged the family into sorrow.
He died last night. Our prayer is that the good Lord grants repose to the soul of the departed and give succour to the bereaved. He gives and takes.
We were informed that officials of LASEMA, recovered his body and that of his driver, around 2:30am on Sunday. Parts of the vehicle were compressed, indicating the impact of the collision.”
Activites paralysed at events centre, Martinos owned by the deceased
Following the news of his demise, activities at a popular Events Centre, ‘Martinos’ owned by the late AVM was paralysed. The events centre [Martinos] is located very close to Late Gani Fawehimi’s library and Regency Suits also close to Femi’s shrine at Alausa in Ikeja.
The deceased AVM held several appointments within the NAF. He was the commandant, Rehab Oshodi and AOL HQ NAF.”
The late AVM was also into real estate. The estate known as Golden Park Estate, is located at Kilometre 33 on Lagos-Epe expressway and Sangotedo.
How the accident happened?
Police sources said the retired Air force officer died together with his driver after their car, a Ford Explorer with number plates: GGE 456 BT, fell into the muddy section of the lagoon, midnight Saturday.
The deceased, who also owns Dormart Group of Companies was reportedly heading home after he attended the birthday party of one of his church members held at his hotel in Ikeja when the accident took place.
Though details of the crash were sketchy as at press time, police sources said it was a lone accident which made his car to somersault twice after which it plunged into the muddy section of the lagoon.
Officials of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, were said to have raced to the scene and succeeded in recovering the bodies of both the retired Air force officer and his driver intact.
Lagos state police spokesman, Famous Cole, who confirmed the incident said bodies of the victims and the wreckage of the car were brought to Yaba Police station around 2am on Sunday by officials of LASEMA.