OAU awaits committee’s report on deceased student

The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has said the report of the committee instituted to probe the alleged assault by a mob on a Part 5 student, Ahize Okoli, in the Department of Engineering in the university, which reportedly led to his death, was still being expected.

It would be recalled that Okoli was accused of stealing a mobile phone in Awo Hall of Residence on the university campus on  April 10 and after he had been severely beaten, it was learnt that the student was moved to the Students’ Union Building in the early hours of Tuesday where he remained till around noon.

It was further learnt that because of the beating he received, Okoli’s health deteriorated and he was rushed to the OAU Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, where he was confirmed dead Tuesday afternoon.

After the management had condemned the mob action on Ikoli, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Simeon Bamire, instituted a probe committee to unravel the circumstances that led to the death.

Giving an update on the incident in an interview with our correspondent on Monday, the Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju, said the probe panel was already at the final stage of its assignment and would present its report to the management soon.

Olanrewaju said: “The committee will submit its report to the Vice Chancellor; but we don’t know if the committee will submit an interim or final report. The university will look into the report and come up with the appropriate action.

“The committee will look at so many issues but the death will the most important one. They will look at the immediate and remote causes and come up with suggestions that will put an end to it.

“The committee is putting final touches into the report preparatory for its submission to the university management.”