A consultant pathologist at Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Dr. Waheed Oluogun, on Wednesday said death of the late Master’s student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ile, Timothy Adegoke, was caused by severe haemorrhage secondary to severe traumatic injury.
According to Oluogun, other experts that conducted the autopsy with him were; Prof. E. Afolayan, Prof. J. Obafunwa, Prof. O.S Ojo, Dr. O.A Komolafe, Dr. S. Soyemi, and Dr. H. Akinyemi.
“There were maggots found around the left side of the head up to the entire left upper limb. The body was taken to Mortuary section of UNIOSUN Teaching hospital, Osogbo. The body was identified by his brother, Adegoke Olugbade. At our teaching hospital, we planned for post mortem examination to know the cause of death. On the 22nd November, 2021, 7 pathologists came for the examination.
“The soft tissue around that area showed marked tissue reaction measuring 32 by 13 centimeters. On internal examination, there was generalised autolysis of internal organs with striking generalised organ pallor. There was blood cloth in the right chest cavity. There was fracture of left hyoid bone of the neck with the fracture of the right cricoid cartilage.
“Tissues were taking from the wound sites for microscopic examination. We compared it with the normal right chest wall. The results revealed there was bleeding to the tissue around the wound site. The right side of the chest wall showed only autolysis. There was complete skeletonisation of the entire upper limb with disarticulation of left elbow joint and left wrist joint. The bone of the arm separate from the bone of the wrist joint. I certify the cause of death to be severe haemorrhage secondary to severe traumatic injury,” Oluogun said.
But under cross examination, Counsel to the first defendant, K. Eleja, SAN, asked the Consultant that, if the disarticulation he mentioned was not because the corpse was not preserved.
But Oluogun, said the disarticulation must have occurred before the demise of Adegoke, as such did not occur at the other side of the deceased body.
Asked if he knew that the body was dumped on the ground before some officials of a local government in Ile-Ife buried it, Oluogun said he did not know.
Oluogun though admitted that there would be increase in the rate of decomposition of a dead body dumped without preservation, but while responding to further probe by Eleja, he said the severity of the decomposition would only alter body structure, but organs would still be recognisable.
The pathologist, who also noted he did not have medical history of the deceased before his death, further said microscopic examination conducted revealed that the internal organs were intact.
Being further cross examined by the counsel to 2nd, 4th, 5th defendants, Muritala Abdulrasheed, SAN, Oluogun who was asked if his conclusion that the deceased did not die a natural death was based on scientific findings, said during postmortem, it was revealed there was no disease on Adegoke’s organs before his death.
Also reexamined during the proceedings was the Investigation Police Officer, Hafiz Olaniyan, while Inspector Sunday Oloko from Force Intelligence and Investigation Department also gave account of the investigation conducted by the Force headquarters after it took over the matter.
Justice Adepele Ojo, adjourned the matter till Thursday for the continuation of the hearing.
Source: Punch
