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The Oyo State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality has ordered State Hospitals Management Board to release the corpse of late Kehinde Omotoso, and Ibadan-based trader who died in police custody in July 2020, to his family for burial.
Omotoso died in custody after he was arrested by police personnel from Iyaganku over an offence allegedly committed by his nephew.
The panel gave the order on Thursday after the defence closed its case with the testimony of Inspector Shuaib Ibrahim, who was one of the officers that arrested Omotoso, as well as well as the testimony of a doctor with the State General Hospital, who was summoned by the panel to clarify issues such as the location of the corpse and condition of Omotoso when he was brought to the hospital.
The family of late Omotoso had lodged a complaint on the Flagit App of Akin Fadeyi Foundation immediately after his death.The Foundation contacted the Afe Babalola chambers to take over the matter.
In his testimony, Dr Olawale Oladimeji said that Omotoso was brought in dead to the hospital on July 21, 2020 around 11.15am by Ibrahim of State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku, adding that all they did was to confirm his deathas there was no sign of life in him. He said the body was then moved to the morgue where he confirmed the corpse was still being kept.
Toyese Owoade of Afe Babalola Chambers, who is the legal representative of the family had applied that the panel order a release of the corpse to the family so they can bury their dead almost a year after his demise. The panel granted the request and ordered that the Hospital Management Board release the corpse to the family, adding that the panel will make its recommendations on the matter.
Earlier, Ibrahim confirmed during cross examination that the Police had not concluded investigations to determine whether Omotoso was guilty of allegations against him before his death, noting that nothing incriminating was found in his house when it was searched. He also said that the order for his remand was obtained the morning he died.
Meanwhile, the case of Jimoh Isiaq, the young man allegedly killed in Ogbomoso by police bullet during the #EndSARs protest in October 2020, was also heard with the prosecution calling its sixth witness, Dr Olumuyiwa Ogunlaja.
Ogunlaja, who is the Director of Clinical Services at Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, submitted a medical report that was admitted and tagged Exhibit P.
The case, however, had to be adjourned on the request of the prosecuting counsel. The prosecuting counsel asked for an adjournment in order to allow them produce the last witness, who is the doctor that carried out autopsy on Isiaq.
The panel granted the request and adjourned the case till June 10.