Coroner Faults Police Investigation Over Ex-UNIMED Registrar’s Death
The Presiding Coroner, Chief Magistrate Dickson Ogunfuyi, lamented that the police failed to conduct thorough analysis of critical exhibits such as the deceased’s mobile phone and a recovered chemical substance.The Coroner’s Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, has faulted the handling of investigations into the death of a former registrar of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ezekiel Adeniran.
The Presiding Coroner, Chief Magistrate Dickson Ogunfuyi, lamented that the police had failed to conduct thorough inquiries into the circumstances of the death, especially the analysis of critical exhibits such as the deceased’s mobile phone and a recovered chemical substance.“From your narrative, I see no investigation has been done. The phone on which the alleged dying declaration was sent is key.“
Without its scientific analysis, this court cannot move forward,” the coroner told the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Inspector Segun Owolabi,” on Tuesday.“Scientific evidence is very crucial. If the autopsy shows he died of poison, the question remains — was it taken voluntarily or forced on him? These doubts must be resolved,” he added.The coroner, therefore, directed the police to fast-track the forensic analysis of the deceased’s phone to confirm the authenticity, timing, and content of the voice note said to have been sent moments before his deathPolice Findings.
While testifying before the court, Inspector Owolabi revealed that the police recovered a container labeled “Detach chemical” from the corridor of the deceased’s residence.He said the deceased’s wife, Mrs. Dolapo Adeniran, admitted ownership of the chemical, claiming it was used as insecticide. The IPO also told the court that the deceased’s driver, Odunayo Adewale, narrated how he found his boss unconscious in the compound after receiving a call from one Taiwo Abdulsalam, said to be a close friend of the deceased.
Owolabi revealed that in a voice note allegedly sent to Abdulsalam before his death, the then-registrar claimed armed men forced him to drink poison and mentioned names, including one Adolphus Loto, then Acting Vice-Chancellor of UNIMED, and one Olalekan. The police, however, admitted that they had not yet concluded analysis of the phone, which remains locked.The IPO noted further that the phone had been forwarded to Abuja for forensic examination, but results were still pending.
According to Owolabi, when interrogated, Loto acknowledged writing a petition against the deceased over alleged certificate forgery but denied any involvement in his death.Similarly, Olalekan, also invited, denied knowledge of the allegations.The Coroner in his ruling stated that while there appeared to be a consensus that Adeniran died of poisoning, the unresolved question was whether it was suicide or homicide.
“If the result comes back that he died of poison, the real issue is: was it voluntary or was it forced on him?“That is the heart of this inquest. No stone must be left unturned,” he declared.Sudden DeathAdeniran reportedly died in the early hours of Thursday, July 17. The Public Relations Officer of the command, Olusola Ayanlade, said that available information showed that Adeniran was killed.Ayanlade had said, “I can confirm to you that the man was killed. From the information I have at my disposal, two men came out of the bush, and they forced a substance into another person’s mouth.
“Meanwhile, I cannot confirm to you that the substance was poisonous; an autopsy will do that.” Adeniran assumed office as the third substantive Registrar of UNIMED on January 6, 2025, and remained so until his death.
