The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Inquest

  • Shittu: Adeleke’s family can only reject inquest on court order

    A legal expert, Mr Wahab Shittu, yesterday said the family of late Senator Isiaka Adeleke can only refuse to appear before a state-ordered inquest if the decision is backed by a court order.

    He said refusing to appear before a Coroner could be unlawful.

    Shittu, however, said the circumstances of the Senator’s death means it may not be ideal to compel the family to appear at the inquest.

    The University of Lagos (UNILAG) law teacher was reacting to the family’s rejection of a coroner’s Inquest ordered by the Osun State government to determine the cause of the politician’s death.

    Following Adeleke’s death on April 30, Governor Rauf Aregbesola signed an executive order setting up a coroner inquest under the state’s Coroner Law of 2002. He appointed a Magistrate, Mr Olusegun Ayodele, as the Coroner.

    Rejecting the inquest, the family said it was ill advised, self serving and its outcome per-determined.

    Shittu said other factors outside the legal  consequences of the family’s rejection of the inquest must be considered.

    “Without a court order, it’ll be difficult for the family to sustain its position, because that may be tantamount to interfering with lawfully constituted authority.

    “But these are not issues that can be resolved by legal considerations alone. We also have to take into cognizance other permutations, including the psychological feelings of the family.

    “This is why it’s not a matter that is strictly legal. There are extra-legal factors that need to be considered going forward,” he said.

    According to Shittu, the family has genuine reasons to be emotional.

    “Considering the circumstances surrounding Senator Adeleke’s death, the family or any other sane Nigerian is entitled to be suspicious. This was a man who a day previously was not showing any signs of any sickness. This may have informed the decision taken by the family, obviously out of frustration.

    “I must say that inspite of that, the family is advised to cooperate and collaborate with the state government in determining the cause of death of this great Nigerian.

    “I want to also believe that the government of Osun State under Ogbeni Aregbesola means very well in this exercise. The family will be doing the soul of the departed good if they cooperate until we see cogent and compelling evidence of complicity.

    “This inquest is not something that is capable of being manipulated because the entire world is watching,” Shittu added.

  • Adeleke family rejects inquest ordered by govt

    Adeleke family rejects inquest ordered by govt

    The late Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke’s family yesterday denounced the coroner’s inquest ordered by the Osun State government to determine the cause of his death.

    It advised indigenes to discountenance “this kangaroo inquest into the death of our beloved Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.”

    Speaking on behalf of the family, the deceased’s younger brother, Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, at a news briefing in Ede, described the inquest as self-serving.

    Accompanied by the late politician’s son, Dele and siblings, Dupe Adeleke-Sani, and Demola, Dr. Adeleke said: “We condemn the continuous politicisation attempts by the state of this great loss to our family, particularly the ordering of this inquest at a time we are still coming to terms with the harsh reality of his sudden departure and the pain and grief therefrom.

    “As part of our attempts to reach closure and begin our healing process, the family had ordered an autopsy to be carried out. This is the only scientific and globally acceptable means of objectively determining the cause of his death and we look forward to the reports. This is irrespective of the obvious infrastructural and technological limitations of medical laboratories.

    “We have been informed by sources that the outcome of the ‘kangaroo inquest’ is predetermined by the state and designed to serve its own interest with distorted facts and misinformation, which will not be in the interest of the people of Osun State in general and the Adeleke family in particular.

    “We have, therefore, as a family resolved not to participate or cooperate with the ‘kangaroo’ styled panel set up by the government, as it was clearly to serve the state’s political interests and ultimate establishment of its own self-serving ‘facts.’ While everyone, including any government, is entitled to his/her own opinion, the government inquest is an attempt to create its own ‘alternative facts.’ Facts are sacred and truth is constant. Alternative facts are nothing but falsehood.

    “We are, therefore, compelled to reject the inquest with its predetermined outcome. We enjoin the peace-loving people of Osun State to discountenance this ‘kangaroo’ inquest into the death of our beloved Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.”

    He challenged the government to explain to the people why it was in a hurry to order an inquest, when report of the autopsy ordered by the Adeleke family is yet to be delivered to the family.

    “We wish to reiterate in strongest terms that the report of the autopsy ordered by the family must be released to no one else other than the Adeleke family. To do otherwise by the medical team conducting the autopsy will be tantamount to gross professional misconduct actionable with appropriate sanctions in law.

    “We hope the concerned pathologists, who we regard and recognise as eminent and thoroughbred practitioners, will act according to their professional calling and oath by expeditiously concluding the autopsy and delivering the report to the Adeleke family, who are the only ones entitled to it.”

  • Adeleke’s family faults death inquest

    Adeleke’s family faults death inquest

    The family of late former Osun State Governor, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, has denounced the coroner’s inquest ordered by the State government to determine the cause of death of the late politician.

    The family also advised the people of the State to discountenance “this kangaroo inquest into the death of our beloved Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.”

    Speaking on behalf of the family on Sunday, the deceased’s younger brother, Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, at a press briefing in the late senator’s Ede country home, described the coroner inquest as self-serving.

    In company of the late politiician’s son, Dele, and younger siblings, Dupe Adeleke-Sani, and Demola, Dr. Adeleke said: “We condemn in strictest terms the continuous politicization attempts by the state of this great loss to our family, particularly the ordering of this inquest at a time that we are still coming to terms with the harsh reality of his sudden departure and the pain and the grief therefrom.”

    “As part of our attempts to reach closure and commence our healing process, the family had earlier ordered an autopsy to be carried out. This is the only scientific and globally acceptable means of objectively determining the cause of his death and we look forward to the reports therefrom. This is irrespective of the obvious infrastructural and technogical limitations of medical laboratories in the country.

    “We have been reliably informed by credible sources that the outcome of the ‘kangaroo inquest’ is already predetermined by the state and designed to serve its own interest with distorted facts and misinformation which will clearly not be in the interest of the good people of Osun in general and the Adeleke family in particular.

    “We have, therefore, as a family resolved not to participate or cooperate with the ‘kangaroo’ styled panel set up by the state government as it was clearly to serve the state’s own political interests and ultimate establishment of its own self-serving ‘facts.’ While everyone including any government is entitled to his/her own opinion, the government inquest is an attempt to create its own ‘alternative facts.’ Facts are sacred and the truth is constant, alternative facts are nothing but falsehood.

    “We are therefore compelled to reject the inquest with its predetermined outcome. We also urge the peace-loving people of Osun State to discountenance this ‘kangaroo’ inquest into the death of our beloved Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke,” Dr Adeleke said.

    He challenged the state government to explain to the people of Osun why it was in a hurry to order a coroner’s inquest when report of the autopsy ordered by the Adeleke family is yet to be delivered to the family.

    He continued: “We wish to reiterate in te strongest terms that the report of the autopsy ordered by the family must be released to no one else other than the Adeleke family. To do otherwise by the medical team that is conducting the autopsy will be tantamount to gross professional misconduct actionable with appropriate sanctions in law.

    “We sincerely hope that the concerned pathologists, who we regard and recorgnize as eminent and thorough-bred practitioners would act according to their professional calling and oath by expeditiously concluding. The autopsy and deliver the report to the Adeleke family, who are the only one entitled to it.”

  • Adeleke: Osun sets up inquest

    Adeleke: Osun sets up inquest

    An inquest into the death of Osun State’s first civilian governor, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke, was announced yesterday.

    A “special statement” by the state government said the move became imperative to put the record straight, following the disruption of the burial arrangements by some “miscreants masquerading as mourners”.

    The statement alleged that the unruly behaviour of the self-acclaimed mourners stopped friends and political associates from paying their last respects to the late Adeleke, who until his death at 62 on April 23, was the Senator representing Osun West District.

    The statement reads: “We are still in shock and great pain over the transition of our friend, associate and brother, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.  He was a prominent son of our state and its first democratically elected governor.

    “Until his death, he was the senator representing Osun West in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was an astute and colourful politician and a generous personality. He was gregarious, enthusiastic and full of life and zest. His death is therefore shocking and totally unexpected.

    “The State Government of Osun had intended to give him a befitting state burial which he rightly deserved and which the state had prepared to undertake.

    “Regrettably, however, the enemies of the state, through brigandage, violence and evil machinations, created an atmosphere of fear and terror in the minds of our citizenry and friends throughout the federation.

    “Immediately the news of his demise filtered in, a band of vagabonds, crying more than the bereaved, took to the streets, looting and wreaking havoc. Journalists were roughened and their equipment damaged. Important dignitaries that came for the burial were equally molested by these thugs.

    “Senator Adeleke was a man of peace. He preached peace and lived it through his life. He left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because he could not stand violence. This was after he was beaten up by some leaders of the PDP during a meeting in a hotel in Osogbo.

    “It is a profound irony and most unfortunate therefore that a few disgruntled elements purporting to protest his death desecrated his funeral with violence and attacks on innocent persons. They dishonoured him and did his memory a great disservice by keeping his friends, political associates and well-wishers away from his burial.

    “In the light of this, the State Government of Osun, using the instrumentality of the law, is setting up an inquest to unravel the circumstances of this unfortunate and sad incident, in order to put the record straight on his death.

    “We continue to mourn the untimely death of Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke. He is irreplaceable in our hearts.  We commiserate with his family, the good people of Ede, associates, friends, constituents and generality of our peopleon the passage of this patriot. As we pray for the repose of his soul, we equally pray for the strength to bear this heavy loss.”

  • Killing of EKSU student: Family demands Coroner’s Inquest

    The family of a student of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Mr. Seyi Fasere, is requesting a Coroner’s Inquest to ascertain what caused the student’s death.

    It said this in a letter dated July 30th, issued on its behalf by Mr. Durodola Olabode, a lawyer, of the Philip Olu Ojo Chambers.

    According to the letter copied to Governor Kayode Fayemi, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Wale Fapohunda and the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sotonye Wakama, the Chairman of Oye Local Government has 30 days to institute the inquest lest he would face a legal action.

    In the letter titled: ‘Demand for Justice’, the family said it decided to “demand the true cause of Seyi’s death to remove the doubt in some quarters that he was a member of an armed gang that robbed a bank” on the day.

    The letter said if the police could parade the deceased’s body around town, saying he was an armed robber after same had been denied by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Fasere, “a Coroner must be brought in to clear Seyi’s name.”

    Fasere, a part-time Business Administration final- year student of EKSU, was believed to have been killed by the police in Oye-Ekiti after a bank robbery in the town on February 28.

    According to reports, Fasere, who had gone home for his tuition fees, was returning to campus with N100,000 meant for the payment of the fees when he died. It was said that none of the valuables on him at the time of the incident, including the money and mobile phones, was recovered.

    The petition reads: “Take notice that if your office will fail, neglect, refuse and or ignore to perform this statutory responsibility thrust on your local government within 30 clear days of your receipt of this letter, our clients will use all legal powers within their reach to enforce the extant laws as duly passed by the Ekiti State House of Assembly.”

    The letter hailed Governor Fayemi for his “zero tolerance for extra-judicial killings”, urging him to support the family in exposing the circumstances of Seyi’s death.

    The petition said a police officer attached to Oye-Ekiti Divisional Police Station told Seyi’s parents that their son was an armed robber, which they had denied.