Senator Adeleke's Death: Coroner Threatens to Order Police Officers' Arrest

Some police officers have been accused of frustrating the inquest into the unprecedented death of the Osun West lawmaker, Isiaka Adeleke.

 

Senator Isiaka Adeleke

 

The Coroner investigating the sudden death of Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Mr. Olusegun Ayilara, has threatened to issue a bench warrant for arrest against the Officer in Charge of Homicide, Osun State Police Command as well as the Divisional Police Officer, Dugbe Police Station, Osogbo if the duo refuse to appear before his court on Wednesday.

 

Ayilara issued this threat during the sitting of the panel on Tuesday due to the failure of the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye, to appear and give evidence as scheduled.

 

The CP was represented during the fist sitting of the coroner but did not show up on Monday. The coroner was assured on Monday by one of the counsels that the CP would appear on Tuesday but he did not show up.

 

However, the Officer-in-Charge of Legal Department, Mr. Abbas Haruna, said the CP could not appear before the coroner due to an urgent official assignment.

 

He said, “We are not aware that the coroner had started sitting. We were on official assignment in Abuja and we came on Sunday. Now that we are aware, I assure the court that tomorrow, the officer concerned must come to testify to what they know as regards the issue we are being called to testify on.”

 

Although the pathologist, who carried out the autopsy, the O/C Homicide, the DPO, Dugbe Police Station; Lasun Olaniyi, one Lukman, (Engr.) Oni and Alfred Aderibigbe were summoned by the coroner during Monday sitting, he (coroner) threatened that he would order the arrest of the police officers if they refused to appear before him on Wednesday.

 

The coroner, who expressed his frustration about the issue of those shunning the court, restated that there were no accused persons and he had no power to force any testifier to say anything they did not wish to say.

 

He said, “We need to explain this again, nobody is on trial here. I don’t have the power to force you to say what you don’t want to say.

“The DPO, Dugbe; O/C Homicide were said to be there during the autopsy and that they identify the body of the late senator. I just want to ask them that. I don’t even need your forensic man (police forensic expert).

“If they don’t come, I will assume that they are frustrating us. This is the second week. We were given three weeks and we want to use next week to complete it.

“Mr. Haruna, ensure that they are here tomorrow. If they are not here, I will issue a warrant. I am serious.”