Fawale dies of cerebral bleeding, witness tells Osun court
Fawale
A consultant pathologist at Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Dr. Waheed Akanni Oluogun, yesterday, told a coroner inquest investigating the killing of a police corporal, Rauf Fawale, by an operative of the Department of State Security (DSS), David Olowoporoku and two others that Fawale died of massive cerebral bleeding due to a severe head injury.
The coroner, headed by Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara, had at the last sitting summoned the manager of Riverside Lounge & Bar, Osogbo, where Fawale was allegedly beaten to coma on January 14, 2021, Medical Director (MD) of Morning Star Hospital, Alekuwodo, Osogbo, MD of Anu Olu Private Hospital, Ilobu, MD of Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, MD of Esho Spine and Brain Hospital, Oke-Fia.
It further extended summons to Investigative Police Officer (IPO) in the case, Modinat Badmus, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Dada Estate, Adisa Badmus, David Olowoporoku and two others to appear and explain what they know about the circumstances leading to Fawale’s death.
The pathologist in his testimony, said the result of the autopsy on the corpse of Fawale, performed on January 26, 2021 at 11:00a.m. at the hospital, revealed that the bleeding was so massive that it raised the intracranial pressure within Fawale’s brain and affected vital parts of his brain before his death.
Oluogun said: “I received the dead body of Fawale at the mortuary unit of UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital on January 24, 2021 at 4:36p.m. The body was identified by a police officer, I don’t know his name, and a post-mortem was performed on January 26, 2021 at 11:00a.m. An autopsy revealed that there were curvilinear (not straight) features on the scalp, extending from the right parietal region to the frontal region of the head.
“On internal examination, there was fracture of the skull extending from the right parietal region to the occipital region of the skull.
“There was some massive cerebral hemorrhage or bleeding to the brain. This massive bleeding led to his death. Other internal organs are normal. There was no natural disease in the body to cause or accelerate death. My Lord, I certified the cause of death to be massive cerebral hemorrhage secondary to severe head injury due to severe trauma.”
Also giving testimony, MD of Anu Olu Private Hospital, Dr. Shedrack Ojo, explained how Fawale was brought to his hospital in a semi-conscious state on January 16, 2021 at about 12:30p.m.
“While getting his (Fawale) history, I was told by Fawale Musefiu, his relative, that he (deceased) had been involved in a fight on January 14, two days to that time.
“He was said to have been taken to LAUTECH Teaching Hospital (now UNIOSUN Campus Teaching Hospital), where an X-ray was done. I was told that the fight was between him and another law enforcement agent (DSS) and we requested for the x-ray and we were told it was in the teaching hospital.
“He was brought to my hospital in a semi conscious state. On examination, he was only responding to painful stimuli. We examined the ear and we found dry clotting in the left ear. We detected chronic head injury.
“Because of the state of unconsciousness, we took up fluid to rehydrate him. We also gave him intravenous antibiotics and pain relieving injections. At about 4:55p.m. that day, we were called that he was restless. At about 8:00p.m., he became more restless. We then wrote a letter and referred him (Fawale) to UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital,” Ojo said after tendering a medical report, which was admitted as exhibit.
Speaking at the sitting, the Director of Osun State Command of DSS, Mr. Bankole Alade, commended the state government for setting up the coroner inquest, adding that the agency was interested in justice.
He said: “This incident (Fawale’s death) has caused issues between two agencies that people look up to. We (DSS) want the state government to understand that we don’t have anything to hide. It’s my prayer that at the end of the day, the victim will be served justice and the good relationship between police and DSS will continue.”
After taking their testimonies, Chief Magistrate Ayilara adjourned further hearing on the matter till April 6.
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