Lover’s rage: Lagos spa worker bathed in acid

A female spa worker in the Lekki Phase 1 area of Lagos State, Olorunseunfunmi Awosogbon, is currently receiving treatment after she was attacked with a substance suspected to be acid. The incident has been linked to a dispute involving her employer.

According to accounts from interviews and court papers, Awosogbon, also known as Ajoke, had been assigned to a client who booked a home massage session on October 25, 2025. The appointment was scheduled for the Lakowe Golf Gate area, near Utmost Care Hospital.

She reportedly arrived at the location in a ride-hailing vehicle when a man identified in court filings as 37-year-old Ziaulihak Zakari approached and allegedly poured the substance on her.

The spa owner, Olorunmaye Ifeoluwa, said the suspect was allegedly hired by a 25-year-old man, Owolabi Daniel, following the breakdown of a personal relationship between Ifeoluwa and Daniel.

Ifeoluwa explained that she met Daniel earlier in 2025 when he booked a massage session at her spa. He later expressed interest in a relationship, which lasted only a few months and was marked by disagreements. After she decided to end the relationship, she said she began receiving threatening messages from unknown numbers.

She also noted that suspicious home-service bookings had been made shortly before the attack. On one occasion, a client stopped responding after her staff arrived at the location. A similar booking later came in for the same area.

Describing the day of the incident, Ifeoluwa said Awosogbon called her in distress, saying a substance suspected to be acid had been poured on her. She immediately arranged for the victim to be taken to hospital. Awosogbon was initially treated at a facility in Lekki before being transferred to another hospital in Ikeja for specialist care.

Ifeoluwa alleged that threatening messages continued after the attack, with one sender stating that the attack was not the end and that she remained a target. A private investigation later linked the messages to a known individual, leading to a police report and an arrest.

Charge sheets filed at a Magistrate Court in Ebute-Metta indicate that Zakari and Daniel are facing counts including conspiracy, threats to life, and causing bodily harm. One count states that the defendants conspired to commit a felony. Another alleges that Daniel sent threatening electronic messages, while a third states that the victim sustained injuries after a chemical substance was poured on her.

Efforts to speak directly with Awosogbon were unsuccessful as she was said to be undergoing medical procedures.

The victim’s lawyer, John Olobayo, criticised the handling of the case, arguing that the charges did not reflect the severity of the allegations. He said petitions had been submitted to relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Justice.

When contacted, the father of one of the suspects, Mr Owolabi, declined to comment in detail and referred enquiries to his lawyer. He said he had contributed financially to the victim’s treatment and claimed he sold his house to pay for her surgery.

The family’s lawyer, Omole Muritala, declined to comment on the substance of the case, insisting he would only respond if the source of his client’s contact was disclosed.