FRESH facts have emerged that the gruesome killing of Gokada founder and Chief Executive Officer, Fahim Saleh, was “financially motivated”.
The 33-year-old was found dismembered inside a luxury apartment in New York’s Lower East Side on Tuesday afternoon.
Saleh’s body was cut with a power saw, which authorities found at the scene plugged into an electrical outlet.
One of the homicide officials from the New York Police Department investigating the murder said on Wednesday that the motive of Saleh’s killer appeared to be financial in nature, adding that the murder appeared to be the result of a bad business deal, WNBC reports.
Sources said the killing might have been a targeted hit, as investigators look into the victim’s business affairs for any possible motives or suspects.
“I think it was an overseas situation where they hired a hitman to do this and maybe the person is on a plane out of here,” a friend of Saleh told NBC New York. Detectives are said to be looking into that possibility.
Police said surveillance footage showed the faceless killer bolting via a staircase after Saleh’s sister buzzed up to the apartment and got into the elevator.
“He was dressed like a ninja, full out, so you can’t even see his face,” the Police said.
“He clearly knew what he was doing. We think his intent was to get rid of the body parts and go back and clean it up and make it look like nothing happened. He left before he finished the job,” The SUN UK reports.
Gokada reportedly raised $5.3million in funding in May 2019 but following a ban on tricycles on major routes in Lagos State, it laid off 75 per cent of its workforce in February, this year.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Gokada team said, “It is with deep sadness and regret that we have to inform you about the sudden and tragic passing of our founder and CEO, Fahim Saleh.
“Fahim was a great leader, an inspiration and a positive light for all of us at Gokada, and we are completely heartbroken by the sad news.
“Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and all those who are currently feeling the same pain that we feel right now.”
