Lead pathologist testifies Adeleke died of drug overdose, Says he didn’t die from poison

Taiwo Sholaja, the lead pathologist, who carried out the autopsy on the body of the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke, yesterday told a coroner’s inquest ordered by Osun State Government that no trace of poison was found in the body system of the deceased when it was examined.

This came as the health assistant that allegedly administered injections on the late senator could not testify owing to a lack of interpreter. His lawyer said he could not speak English fluently.

Sholaja, giving evidence before the coroner, Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara, said the autopsy carried out by him and two other pathologists from Ladoke Akintola University Hospital, Osogbo, revealed that the late senator died of “aspiration of gastric content due to multiple drug overdose.”

He said the autopsy carried out by him and his team was performed in the presence of the Police Divisional Officer of Dugbe Police Station, Osogbo, SP Ogunkanmi Gbemileke and two other pathologists from LAUTECH.

Sholaja also said that before the autopsy, he gathered from a family member, Mrs Modupe Adeleke-Sani, that the late politician had complained of pains in the knees, and inability to sleep. Late Senator Isiaka Adeleke He added that some drugs were said to have been administered on him.

Sholaja said after an examination was carried out on Adeleke’s body, it was discovered that the drugs  administered on him in excess quantity caused his death as his breathing was blocked due to its side effect.

“Aspiration of the gastric content blocked his airwaves through depriving the body of oxygen which was also evident in the bluish discolouration shown on some parts of the deceased’s body,” he said.

He said the used containers of the drugs administered on him indicated that a banned drug, Analgin injection as well as Diazepam injection, pentasozine injection, gentamicin and hydrocortisone drugs were administered on him.

The pathologist said the side effects of most of the drugs given to the deceased included drowsiness, vomiting and cardiovascular collapse which resulted in blockage of his breathing. He said though the deceased had a hypertensive heart desease which could have caused sudden death, there was, however, no evidence of this from the result of the autopsy.

Sholaja also said the police toxicologist report, which was presented to him after samples were taken, showed abnormally high level of alcohol, sedatives and Analgin in the blood of the deceased.

No traces of poison and metal was, however, found, he said.

Source: Vanguard