Adeleke’s family, Osun govt bicker over coroner inquest

The family of Senator Isiaka Adeleke, who died on April 23, has rejected  the coroner inquest instituted by Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State.
While addressing a press conference on Sunday in Ede, the immediate younger brother of the deceased, Deji , alleged that the outcome of the inquest was predetermined.
Aregbesola had on May 2 signed an executive order setting up a coroner inquest into the  death of the senator.
The order was according to the Coroner Law Cap 32 Vol I Law of Osun,  2002.
The family, according to Adeleke, however,  rejected the coroner inquest in its entirety.
“The family, hereby, denounce in its entirety the ill-advised and self-serving coroner inquest ordered by the Osun State Government, purportedly set up to determine the cause of death of our dearly beloved Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.
“We condemn, in strictest terms, the continuous politicisation attempts by the state of this great loss to our family, particularly the ordering of this inquest at a time we are still coming to terms with the harsh reality of his sudden departure and the pain and grief  therefrom.
“We have been reliably informed by credible sources that the outcome of the kangaroo inquest is already predetermined by the state.
“It is also designed to serve its own interest with distorted facts and misinformation which will clearly not be in the interest of the good people of Osun in general and the Adeleke family in particular,”  Adeleke  said.
Adeleke  family had at a press conference on April 26 said that the autopsy result conducted on the deceased was yet to be out.
The late senator, who was buried on April 24, represented Osun West Senatorial District on  the platform of the APC.
Adeleke, who died at 62 years, was also the first civilian governor of  Osun State between January  1992 and November  1993 on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP).
In a swift reaction, the state government  on Sunday said  the rejection by Adeleke’s family  of the coroner inquest it instituted into the late politician’s death was unfortunate.
Mr Semiu Okanlawon, a media aide to Aregbesola, said  on Sunday in Osogbo that  the step taken by the government in  setting up the coroner  inquest was the most responsible action to take.
Okanlawon said government’s decision in setting up the inquest was the acceptable standard in any civilised society.
He said: “The attention of the Government of the State of Osun has been drawn to a press conference purportedly held by the family of Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, where it rejected the Coroners Inquest instituted by the Government into the unfortunate and sudden death of our beloved former Governor.
” This is rather unfortunate; as a government the step that has been taken is the most responsible and the most acceptable standard in any civilised society.
” The decision to institute an inquest into this sudden death was not to please or satisfy anyone at all.
“It was set up for the good of the society. And to the extent that this was set up not to please anyone but for the good of our society.
“We are all bereaved and mourning with the unfortunate death of one of our illustrious sons and most importantly a former Governor of our dear state.
It would not be in the best interests and honour of the departed soul for the government to engage the family on a matter of this nature.
“It is, therefore, trite to state that the Adeleke Family has right to all the choices open to them just as we are sure this is a matter that is already in the court of public opinion.’’