No trace of poison in Adeleke’s death, pathologist tells coroner

Isiaka Adeleke former Osun State governor

The pathologist that carried out autopsy examination of the death of the first civilian Governor of Osun State, Isiaka Adeleke, Dr. Taiwo Solaja, on Wednesday confirmed before the Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara-led coroner inquest panel that the death of the late senator was caused by aspiration and multiple drugs overdose.

Dr. Solaja told the panel that there was no trace of poison while he claimed that the deceased was sedated causing nervous depression.

According to the pathologist, “there were no traces of poison or heavy metals in the toxicology report.

“The deceased was deeply sedated and ate overdose of analgesic which caused central nervous depression, especially in the manner he was given the drugs.

“He apparently vomited and aspirated. The aspiration of the gastric contents blocks the airway.

“The toxicology carried out by the police toxicologist also showed abnormally high level of alcohol, sedatives and analgesic in the blood of the deceased”.

When asked by the commissioner nominee of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Barrister Ajibola Basiru, whether he was aware that Analgin has been banned in Nigeria since 2006, Dr. Solaja said that the toxicology discovered high amount of the drug taken by the late senator.

“His liver showed alcoholic steartohdeatitis. His death was due to aspiration gastric contents”, the pathologist explained.

Explaining the physical examination carried out before the post-mortem, the pathologist said “we learned that the deceased complained of pain. He was said to have been given some drugs. The drugs were given intravenously. 40mg of Diacepharm, 1000 mg of Analgin, 1500mg of Gentamycine, 30mg of Pentazocine.

“The Diacepharm can cause depression of the nerval system, drowsiness, respiratory depression, vomiting. Analgin also causes the same thing with inclusion of cardiovascular arrest”, he added.

Dr. Solaja who claimed to be the lead investigator said “I was with my two resident doctors, Abidemi Makinde and Olalekan Ajayi, the CMD of LAUTECH, two mortuary attendants (Agbeseyi Olalekan and Adegboye Musibau) and the policemen.