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Tag: Isiaka Adeleke

  • ‘Family not behind rearrest, prosecution of nurse who treated Isiaka Adeleke’

    The family of the late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke has denied being behind the re-arrest and prosecution of a nurse, Mr. Alfred Aderibigbe, who allegedly administered overdose drugs on the late lawmaker.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Ede, the younger brother of the deceased, Dr. Deji Adeleke, a member of the family, Mr. Dele Adeleke, warned the state government to stop politicising the death of their brother.

    The family said the re-arrest and prosecution of Aderibigbe was the government’s attempt to achieve the “ultimate goal of grand cover-up of the truth behind the death of Adeleke”.

    The family was apparently reacting to the verdict of the State High Court, sitting in Ede, which ordered, on June 8, that the nurse be remanded in prison custody after the coroner’s inquest, led by Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara, indicted him over Adeleke’s death.

    The Adeleke family said: “The attention of the Adeleke family has been drawn to the recent publication of the sudden re-arrest and prosecution of the nurse who was involved in the treatment of our dearly beloved brother and hero, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, who sadly passed away on April 23, 2017.

    “We are all aware that the Osun State government set up a Coroner’s inquest, which sat from May 8, 2017 and recommended the prosecution of Mr. Alfred Aderibigbe, who was the nurse alleged to have administered drugs on Senator Isiaka Adeleke.

    “The nurse has been roaming the streets freely and undisturbed. The government did not consider it necessary or important to make available to the family the detailed report of the autopsy conducted on our late brother as well as the detailed report of the coroner’s inquest. We have had to resort to getting information from the media, just like every other members of the public, as if we are not a related party.

    “The family is concerned about the further politicisation of demise of Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke, especially with the timing of the sudden interest in the matter, after over a year of inaction on the part of Osun State government; more so that elections to change the mantle of leadership of the state is so close.

    “There is also a growing suspicion that the recent ‘arrangement’ of the state government is to achieve the ultimate goal of grand cover-up of the truth behind the death of Alhaji Isiaka.

    “The public is hereby enjoined to help us ask the government: why the inaction for over a year? Why the publicity around the arrest and prosecution? The public is hereby put on notice to be vigilant of the manipulative moves of this …administration.

    “As law-abiding citizens, the family cannot interfere with the judicial process that has recently commended, but we do sincerely pray that the judiciary, the last hope of the common man and only hope for justice for the deceased, will rise to its noble calling to serve justice without fear or favour. We will be sending the family’s lawyer to observe the proceedings in court as they progress.

    “We thank the good people of Osun State for their tremendous love and support to the family since the sudden and still very painful passing of our dearly beloved brother and hero of the family and hero of the masses, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke, may the Almighty  grant him eternal rest in Al-Janat Frida’os.”

  • Osun bye-election: PDP’s victory evidence of unity, hard work – Makarfi

    Osun bye-election: PDP’s victory evidence of unity, hard work – Makarfi

    The Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the PDP, Ahmed Makarfi, has described the party’s success in Saturday’s Osun West Senatorial bye-election as evidence of unity and hard work among its members.

    Makarfi made the observation in a statement signed by the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Dayo Adeyeye, on Sunday in Abuja.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission on Sunday declared Mr Ademola Adeleke of the PDP, the winner of the bye-election held in 10 local government areas.

    The winner, who is the younger brother of the late Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, had 97, 480 votes to defeat a former Senator, Mudashiru Hussein of the APC, who had 66, 116 votes.

    Makarfi also said that the victory showed continued acceptance of the PDP.

    “The successful outcome of this election is an evidence of hard work, dedication and the unity of all members of PDP in Osun.

    “They buried their temporary differences in the overall interest of the party and the good people of Osun.

    “We are confident that the PDP remains the party to beat in elections.

    “As we await the judgment of the Supreme Court, we urge all our members to unite in the interest of Nigerian,” he said.

    He also congratulated Adeleke on his victory.

    He also hailed the people of Osun West for voting for Adeleke and for conducting themselves peacefully during the election.

  • INEC fixes July 8 for Osun West Senatorial bye-election

    INEC fixes July 8 for Osun West Senatorial bye-election

    The Independent National​Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed July 8 for Osun-West Senatorial District bye-election to elect a new senator for the constituency after the sudden death of Sen. Isiaka Adeleke.

    In a notice by Administrative Secretary, INEC, Osun, Mr. E.A Ademusire, in Osogbo on Monday, conduct of parties’ primaries would commence on Tuesday through June14 while the election would hold on July 8.

    The notice stated that bye-election was scheduled consequent upon the position of the enabling status that bye-elections to fill the declared vacant seat by the National Assembly be conducted within 30 days upon the declaration.

    “Take note that by the directives of the Chairman, Independent National​Electoral Commission’s bye-election for Osun West Senatorial seat will hold on Saturday, July 8, 2017.”

    The attachment to the notice however indicated that last day of submission of party nomination form is June 15, publication of nominated candidate’s names, June 22 and submission of names and addresses of party agents to INEC officer, June 30.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Osun West Senatorial seat became vacant after the sudden death of Isiaka Adeleke on April 23.

  • Adeleke died of drug overdose – Coroner

    Adeleke died of drug overdose – Coroner

    The coroner inquest inaugurated by Osun State Government to investigate the death of Senator Isiaka Adeleke on Tuesday upheld the autopsy and toxicology reports carried out on the late politician at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital.

    The coroner, Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara, said the politician died of drug overdose and not food poisoning.

    He said evidences and witnesses’ accounts before the panel revealed that Adeleke died of drug overdose.

    He said: “I have critically gone through all the evidence before me. From the totality of evidence, the possibility of poisoning of the deceased is not sustainable.

    “I have not been able to trace any link to poisoning by anybody. The autopsy report and also the toxicologist report are very specific to say there were no traces of poison or heavy metal in the blood of the deceased. Therefore it is my firm opinion that he was not poisoned, I so hold.”

    The evidences of the pathologist, Dr. Femi Solaja, the toxicologist, Police Forensic expert, DSP Benedict Agboh, and Prof. Akeem Lasisi, Chief Medical Director of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, scientifically pointed to the fact that the death of the deceased was caused by aspiration of the gastric content which blocked his airwaves as a result of high level of alcohol, sedative and analgesic which caused the vital senses centre in the brain to shut down resulting in death.”

    He said the nurse that treated the deceased before he died, Mr. Alfred Aderibigbe, tried to puncture the scientific evidence by denying administering overdose on Adeleke while treating him for gout.

    The coroner said Aderibigbe’s attempt failed because the evidence he gave in court and the police statement he made were contradictory.

    The coroner added: “The deceased did not die of food poisoning, the deceased had an administration of overdose of sedative and analgesic by an unqualified personnel, Alfred Aderibigbe, through intravenous means which action was hastened by the presence of alcohol in the system.

    “The deceased had patronised the said Aderibigbe for about 20 years and had taken treatment from him without doctors’ prescription and that the high dose of sedative and analgesic with the mode of administration caused his death.

    “So, I recommend that the qualification of Aderibigbe should be further investigated to be sure he is qualified as he claims. I also recommend that that the office of the Department of Public Prosecution should look into the case file of Aderibigbe with them in order to determine the appropriate charges, if any, to be pressed against him.

    “The public should be sensitised by the government on the need to visit and patronise only qualified medical personnel in treatment of their ailments.”

     

  • Adeleke: Coroner fixes May 29 for verdict

    The Coroner Inquest set up by Osun Government to investigate the cause of death of Sen. Isiaka Adeleke has fixed May 29 to give its final verdict on its findings.

    The Coroner, Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara made this known during the court’s sitting on Monday in Osogbo.

    Ayilara said that the court commenced sitting on May 10, and 10 out of the 15 respondents summoned by the court had appeared before it.

    “This court summoned 15 persons to appear before it, an advertisement which was published on May 11 in two national newspapers, the Tribune and The Nation.

    “However, only 10 out of the respondents appeared before this court. I will not force anybody to appear before this court neither can we wait forever for them to appear.

    “Their refusal to appear before this tribunal is intentional and so I am setting Monday, May 29 for the final verdict. By then we should know where we are going.’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that since the coroner started sitting, the major people that saw the late senator had appeared before the court to give evidence.

    They include the nurse that treated him before his death and the forensic team that carried out autopsy on him.

    The Adeleke family, however, refused to honour the invitation of the court, stating in a news conference that the death of the senator was being politicised.

    According to them, and that they are not in support of the setting up of the coroner inquest by the state government

     

  • ‘Adeleke didn’t die from poison’

    ‘Adeleke didn’t die from poison’

    Dr Taiwo Sholaja, the lead pathologist who carried out the autopsy on the body of the late Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, on Wednesday told a coroner inquest that no trace of poison was found in the body system of the deceased when it was examined.

    Sholaja,  while giving evidence before the coroner, Chief  Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara, said the autopsy carried out by him and two other pathologists from Ladoke Akintola University Hospital, Osogbo,  revealed that the late senator died of “aspiration of gastric content due to multiple drug overdose.”

    He said the autopsy carried out by him and his team was performed in the presence of the Police Divisional Officer of  Dugbe Police Station, Osogbo,  SP Ogunkanmi Gbemileke and the two other pathologists from LAUTECH.

    Sholaja also said that before the autopsy, he gathered from a family member, Mrs Modupe Adeleke-Sani that the late politician had complained of pains in the knees, and inability to sleep.

    He added that some drugs were said to have been administered on him.

    Sholaja said after an examination was carried out on Adeleke’s body, it was discovered that the drugs which were administered on him in excess quantity caused his death as his breathing was blocked due to a side effect.

    “Aspiration of the gastric content blocked his airwaves through depriving the body of oxygen which was also evident in the bluish discolouration shown on some parts of the deceased’s body,” he said.

    He said the used containers of the drugs administered on him indicated that a banned drug,  Analgin injection as well as Diazepam injection, pentasozine injection, gentamicin and hydrocortisone drugs were given to him.

    The pathologist said the side effects of most of the drugs given to the deceased included drowsiness, vomiting and cardiovascular collapse which resulted in blockage of his breathing.

    He said though the deceased had a hypertensive heart decease which could have caused sudden death, there was, however, no evidence of this from the result of the autopsy.

    Sholaja also said the police toxicologist report, which was presented to him after samples were taken, showed abnormally high level of alcohol, sedative and Analgin in the blood of the deceased.

    No traces of poison and metal were, however, found.

    Gbemileke, the DPO of Dugbe Police Station and the Officer in charge of Homicide, SP Etetah Moses, both confirmed that the empty bottles and injections of the drugs given to the deceased were in police custody.

    But when Mr c, the nurse that administered  the drugs on Adeleke was called, his counsel, Lekan Alabi,  prayed  the court to allow his client appear on Friday.

    He said the summon was only served on him on Tuesday, adding that his client needed more time to prepare.

    The coroner, however, rejected the plea, saying Alfred must appear before the court on Thursday, the next adjourned date

     

  • Adeleke: Coroner threatens to arrest police officers

    Adeleke: Coroner threatens to arrest police officers

    The coroner inquest set up by Osun State government to investigate the likely cause of Senator Isiaka Adeleke’s death on Tuesday threatened to issue warrant of arrest against the police officer in charge of Homicide and a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) if they fail to appear before on Wednesday.

    The Chief Magistrate, Olusegun Ayilara, who made the threat during the ongoing proceeding at the state High Court, Osogbo, also summoned the state commissioner of police and the pathologist that carried out the postmortem examination on the late senator.

    The Chief Medical Director of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Prof. Akeem Lasisi, on Monday testified before the panel that the pathologist that carried out the postmortem, Dr. Solaja, was the only person that could give detail of the result.

    Prof. Lasisi further testified that the O/C Homicide and the DPO Dugbe Police Station were inside the mortuary with the pathologist when the sample for the postmortem was taken.

    He also disclosed that overdose of some drugs administered on the late senator was another likely cause of his death.

    He said, “When Adeleke’s corpse was brought to the hospital, his medical history revealed that one person that was neither a doctor nor a nurse injected him with some medicines when he complained of leg pain earlier before he died.”

    Lasisi said the injection included five percent of dextrose, intravenous fluid glory set, scalp vein needle, two ampoules of Analgin, four ampoules of 10ml Diazepam, one ampoule of Pentasozine, one ampoule of Getamacine and Valium.

    He maintained that the drugs were given in excess dosage and could cause reflex collapse and blockage of respiratory system.

    He added: “As a medical doctor of 27 years experience, I have never given 40ml of diazepam to any patient and Analgin is also an outlawed drug, I wonder where the so called person got that from.”

     

  • Adeleke’s family rejects coroner inquest set up by Aregbesola

    Adeleke’s family rejects coroner inquest set up by Aregbesola

    The family of Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, who died on April 23, has rejected  the coroner inquest instituted by Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun.

    While addressing a press conference on Sunday in Ede, the immediate younger brother of the deceased, Deji , alleged that the outcome of the inquest was predetermined.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Aregbesola had on May 2 signed an executive order setting up a coroner inquest into the  death of the senator.

    The order was according to the Coroner Law Cap 32 Vol I Law of Osun,  2002.

    The family, according to Adeleke, however,  rejected the coroner inquest in its entirety.

    “The family, hereby, denounce in its entirety the ill-advised and self-serving coroner inquest ordered by the Osun State Government, purportedly set up to determine the cause of death of our dearly beloved Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.

    “We condemn, in strictest terms, 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.

    “We have been reliably informed by credible sources that the outcome of the kangaroo inquest is already predetermined by the state.

    “It is also 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,”  Adeleke  said.

    NAN recalls that the Adeleke  family had at a press conference on April 26 said that the autopsy result conducted on the deceased was yet to be out.

    The late senator, who was buried on April 24, represented Osun West Senatorial District on  the platform of the APC.

    Adeleke, who died at 62 years, was also the first civilian governor of  Osun  between January  1992 and November  1993 on the platform of defunct Social Democratic Party.

  • 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.”

  • Osun NLC cancels Workers’ Day celebration in honour of Adeleke

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Osun state on Monday said it  had canceled the Workers Day celebration in honour of   Sen. Isiaka Adeleke who died on April, 23.

    The State NLC chairman,  Mr Jacob Adekomi  told the  News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo, that the body took the decision to honour Adeleke who was the state’s first civilian governor. Adeleke was the governor between 1992 and 1993, before the coup by General Sani Abacha on 17 November 1993.

    Adekomi  said the Fidau (prayer) for Adeleke also falls on Workers’ Day.

    He said that in line with the  call by the national body of the NLC for better welfare for civil servants, “Osun NLC is also pressing home and making demands for the payments of all outstandings from the state government.

    “We are demanding from the government the payment of outstanding balance of over 20 months half salaries the workers are being paid.

    “We are also asking the government to pay workers their leave allowances and other benefits that is due to them,” he said

    Adekomi said that their demands were always contained in letters which they had been forwarding to the government as a follow up to meetings they had been holding.

    He said in two weeks time, NLC would be organising a workshop.

    He said during the workshop, other issues that affect the workers and their welfare  would be discussed.

    NAN reports that Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, representing Osun West Senatorial District died on Sunday, April, 23.

    The sudden death had thrown up suspicions and speculations about the cause. The report of an autopsy ordered by the family has not been released