Oniba’s Kidnap: How Palace Guard, Okada Rider Died Of Bullet Wounds, By Pathologist

A Consultant Pathologist, Dr. Sunday Soyemi, last Friday revealed how two persons died of bullet wounds fired by militants who kidnapped the Oniba of Iba in Lagos State, Oba Goriola Oseni on July 16, 2016.

The state government had charged four suspects arrested in connection with the crime before a Lagos High Court in Igbosere. They are Duba Furejo, Ododowo Isaiah, Reuben Anthony and Yerin Fresh.

At the resumed hearing of the matter, Soyemi, who is also a senior lecturer at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), said the security guard attached to the palace, Sunday Okanlawon, and a motorcycle rider, Joseph Okeke, died as a result of the wounds of the bullet fired by the kidnappers.

While being led in evidence by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, Soyemi told the court that he performed the postmortem on the two deceased persons and that the result revealed that they died of bullet wounds.

Soyemi said the body of Okanlawo was identified by his son, Seun Okanlawon and the Investigative Police Officer (IPO) in charge of the case, Sergeant Ademo Rahim, while that of Okeke was identified by the said IPO.

In his testimony, Soyemi narrated that “the essential findings on Okanlawon were a circular hole on the shoulder at the back, a structure on the bridge of the nose, and a structural defeat on the upper part of the head.”

The pathologist added that the base of the skull shows fracture and there was bleeding into the brain and extensive cerebral laceration.

He said the result of the autopsy revealed that the death of Okanlawon was ascribed to “severe crenel cerebral injury following a penetrative injury to the skull.”

Besides, Soyemi said that the autopsy result of Okeke revealed a destruction of the left femoral vessel.

He said from investigation, there was an entry and exit wound and such was usually caused by bullet wound, adding that the wounds on both bodies were consistent with bullet wounds gunshot.

He said after the postmortem, death certificates were issued to the families of the deceased persons.

During cross examination by the defendants’ lawyer, Soyemi reaffirmed the results of the autopsy.

It would be recalled that the IPO (Rahim) had earlier testified in the matter where he told the court that in the course of investigation, he discovered that the security guard at ‎the palace, one Sunday Okanlawon was shot in the head.

The defendants are standing trial on an eight-count charge bordering on kidnapping of the Oniba of Iba, conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, robbery, armed robbery and felony  preferred against them by the state government.

Meanwhile, the trial judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo has adjourned the case to February 3, 10 and 14, 2017 for continuation of trial.