Almost two and half years of arraignment, an Osun State High Court, sitting in Osogbo, Thursday discharged the personal Nurse of the late Osun West Senator, Isiaka Adeleke, Alfred Aderibigbe.
The Nurse, Aderibigbe was recommended for prosecution having being indicted by the coroner inquest led by Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara, for allegedly administered overdose drugs on the late Senator, thus causing his death.
Aderibigbe was arraigned on 8th June, 2018 and he pleaded not guilty to the murder charge preferred against him by the state government.
During his trial, Aderibigbe told the court that the drugs he administered on late Adeleke were given to him by the late Senator and not in overdose.
Prosecution team led by the Acting Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr Dapo Adeniji called nine witnesses and tendered several exhibits during the trial.
One of the state witnesses, the Chief Medical Director of Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Prof. Akeem Lasisi, said Adeleke died of drug overdose.
Also, the Consultant Pathologist, who carried out the autopsy on Adeleke’s corpse, Dr Taiwo Sholaja, told the coroner that he died of drug overdose.
Counsel to the accused, Mr Soji Oyetayo, said none of the prosecution witnesses, including the police investigating officer, visited the scene of crime and retrieve the doctor’s prescription which was in the custody of the deceased before his death.
He said the late Senator was suffering from hypertension and gout during his life time.
The counsel noted that the deceased was in emergency need of medical attention and that is why he invited Aderibigbe to administer the drug on him.
Oyetayo insisted that failure of one Oladipo Fabode who handed over the used drugs to IPO to testify before the court, has spoilt the evidence of the prosecution.
Justice Ayo Oyebiyi, held that the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt and thereby discharged and acquitted Aderibigbe.
