A Reggae artist, Sunday Ekwe, is in police custody for allegedly killing his lover.

Ekwe, popularly known as Ekwe Sample, allegedly strangled Rukayat Idris in her car on April 13, 2012.

Ekwe was arrested by homicide detectives attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba in Lagos.

Police sources said they were alerted by passersby who discovered Rukayat’s corpse in her car by the Trade Fair Complex along Badagry-Seme road.

Her corpse was discovered around 8pm, but her car was said to have been abandoned under the bridge where it was discovered since noon.

Rukayat’s remains were deposited in a mortuary for autopsy, and police said she had no gunshot wound.

Investigation revealed that nothing was stolen from the deceased; however, there were marks on her neck which suggested that she was strangled.

Sources close to the estranged couple told the police that Ekwe and Rukayat had been separated for close to a year.

There were claims of constant quarrelling and battering between the couple.

The deceased’s relatives were also said to have accused Ekwe of committing the crime.

It was also gathered that Ekwe moved out of their Satellite Town apartment, abandoning Rukayat and their daughter.

One Rasta Mumen, a close friend of Rukayat’s, told the police that Rukayat and her daughter were  squatting with friends after their rent expired last year.

Mumen also told the police that Ruyakat, an indigene of Kogi state, left her child with her to go to the market the day she was killed.

Sources close to the family said Ekwe did not appear concerned when he was informed of Rukayat’s death.

“It was Ruyakat’s sister who came from Port Harcourt that identified her body and made the complaint, because when Ekwe was called, he showed no remorse or came to identify her,” said the source who requested anonymity.

Popular artists in Ekwe’s genre, including Daddy Showkey and African China were said to have shown support by visiting their colleague in the cell.