Akure, Sept. 23, 2025 — The Coroner’s Court sitting in Akure on Tuesday expressed frustration at the handling of investigations into the mysterious death of Mr. Ezekiel Imole Adeniran, Registrar of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED).
Presiding Coroner, Chief Magistrate Dr. 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 recovered chemical substance.
“From your narrative, I see no investigation has been done. The phone where 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.
“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.”
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 death.
IPO’s Testimony
Testifying before the court, Inspector Owolabi recounted how 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, Mr. Odunayo Adewale, narrated how he found his boss unconscious in the compound after receiving a call from Mr. Taiwo Abdulsalam, a close friend of the deceased.
Owolabi revealed that in a voice note allegedly sent to Abdulsalam before his death, the Registrar claimed he was forced by armed men to drink poison and mentioned names — including Prof. 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.
According to Owolabi, the device had been forwarded to Abuja for forensic examination, but results were still pending.
The police officer said, Prof. Loto, when interrogated, 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 IPO confirmed that the autopsy would commence on Wednesday morning under the supervision of a government pathologist.
Coroner’s Concern
The Coroner stressed that while there appeared to be consensus that Mr. 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,” Ogunfuyi ruled.
