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Coroner threatens to arrest DPO over inquiry into Adeleke’s death

By Tunji Omofoye, Osogbo
17 May 2017   |   4:26 am
The coroner on May 10, 2017 summoned the state Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Fimihan Adeoye to testify before the case was adjourned to May 15.

Late Senator Isiaka Adeleke

The coroner probing the cause of Senator Isiaka Adeleke’s death, Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara, yesterday threatened to issue a bench warrant for arrest against the Officer in Charge (O/C) of Homicide, Osun State Police Command and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Dugbe Police Station, Osogbo if they fail to appear before his panel.

The coroner on May 10, 2017 summoned the state Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Fimihan Adeoye to testify before the case was adjourned to May 15. However, at the resumed hearing on Monday, neither the commissioner of police nor his representatives were around throughout the sitting of the panel.

In his response, the coroner said: “We need facts from police officers, medical doctors and other relevant bodies that were involved at the autopsy exercise, most importantly the DPO of Dugbe police Station and O/C Homicide.

“The O/C Homicide and DPO are expected tomorrow (today). They need to come and I want to say this that nobody is on trial here. This is not a criminal proceeding. I am not going to stop anybody from going back to his or her house and I won’t force anybody to say what he doesn’t want to say.

“So, for this reason, failure to appear before this coroner inquest panel would be interpreted otherwise because if they don’t come, I will assume that they are deliberately frustrating our efforts.”

“We issued the summon yesterday (Monday) and they have 48 hours to answer, that is why I will fixed tomorrow (today) for them. As a matter of fact, if the necessary parties are not here tomorrow, we will issue bench warrant against them,” Magistrate Ayilara stated.

He, thereafter, adjourned the hearing till today for continuation.

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