BREAKING NEWS, Crime
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Albert Ilemobade, a former vice-chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, is found dead in a store at his residence one week after his disappearance with his driver and guard
THE body of Albert Ilemobade, a professor and former vice-chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, was discovered on Sunday, June 28, in a store in his Ijapo home in Akure, the Ondo State capital. The decomposing remains of the late academic have been taken to the morgue.
The store, where his was found is a small isolated room outside the main building.
Yemi, his driver, and Daniel, a guard, have been arrested for the murder.
The suspects were arrested in Ogun State while trying to sell the Sport Utility Van, SUV, belonging to the late former chairman of the Committee of vice-chancellors. The suspects were said to have confessed to the crime during interrogation. His decomposing remains have been taken to the morgue.
The late Ilemobade, his driver and guard were last Monday, June 22, declared missing. Then, it was claimed the former VC was abducted, prompting relatives, church members and friends to pray and call for his release.
Ilemobade retired from the FUTA in 1995 after serving two terms as VC. He was about 80 years old.
Ayodeji Fagbemi, vicar-in-charge, Vinning College of Theology, Akure, described the death as shocking, saying a lot of people had thought he was kidnapped. He said: “We were together in church on Sunday. It was Father’s Day last Sunday and, as usual, he was very active in our Bible study, making his contribution. During the time of thanksgiving, he danced.
“On Monday morning, we were called that he was missing. It was a very disturbing development for us. We came here straight away. The police and all of us met at the gate.
“Right from the front, the gate was padlocked. There was no way anybody could get in. Mama was inside and we were out there. We could only exchange words. Later, we called someone to cut the padlocks.
“When we entered, we saw his wristwatch just in front of the security post within the compound. We also found that his slippers had been flung to the other side of the road. We noticed that his red car had been taken away.
“We have since been around, church members, friends and everybody to support them, to encourage Mama.”
Fagbemi said he sent a text message to his phone number and his children were doing the same to encourage him. He said: “It got to a stage that we were all getting agitated, wondering why it was taking time to release him.
“We were still hoping that with our efforts and prayers and efforts of the security operatives that his abductors would be apprehended and that he would be returned to us.
“Every day, our people have been coming here to pray. Even today, we still prayed for him. But I was called to come and see them here. In fact, mama was resting.
“I was told that he was actually killed. It was a shocking one. I had to go back to the church to disperse the people and tell them the news. While we were thinking that he was taken away, he must have been killed here.”
A source in the family said the late Ilemobade might have been killed because he just bought a new vehicle.
“Papa bought a vehicle recently and since then we have got information that they wanted to steal that vehicle.
“Earlier in the year, he was trailed by some unknown persons who wanted to snatch his vehicle, but he escaped. I think it was that vehicle that they wanted to sell.
“I can’t imagine that our gateman was even the brain behind this. Papa took him as his son.”
Ilemobade retired from the FUTA in 1995 after serving two terms as VC. He was about 80 years old.
Emmanuel Fasakin, rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji and ex-FUTA Deputy Vice Chancellor, said Nigeria had lost a very great scholar. Fasakin lamented the manner in which Ilemobade was murdered, saying that he did not deserve to die a “cruel death”.
Isaac Eke, commissioner of Police, Ondo State, confirmed the incident. Eke said he had been contacted by the Ogun State Police Command, adding that the two suspects had been arrested and that they would be paraded on Monday, June 29.
— Jun 29, 2015 @ 12:00 GMT
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