NMA Probes Chairman's Death, Alleges Foul Play

                   The Nigeria Medi­cal Association (NMA), Ondo State Chapter, has said it would resist any attempt to sweep the case of Dr. David Akin­tayo Oguntuase, who died in an inferno that razed his Universal Medical Clinic, Akure, on Christmas day, under the carpet. You can read the story Mystery Fire Guts Hospital, Burns Doctor To Death here

The Association, through its state chair­man, Bamidele Betiku, made the disclosure on Monday, in Akure while addressing journalists on its position over the death of their late colleague.

Betiku, flanked by other executive members of the association, said there was foul play in the death of the deceased. He disclosed that an ex­amination of the scene of the fire incident revealed that the late Oguntuase was gruesomely murdered.

The NMA chairman said, “The scene of the incident was initially a free-for-all to come in and out of the premises before concerted efforts were made by the NMA on the police to cordon off the environment such that the abundance of evidence be adequately utilised.”

“The silhouette of the burnt body (face down) was noted to be in keeping with that identified before it was taken to the mortuary of the State Specialist Hospital, Akure.”

“The body was dismembered on the upper and lower limbs and the area of the silhouette was still somewhat wet and one of the small bones of the foot was found on the floor.”

He also said the room where the body laid had the burglary of its window destroyed, noting that it was the only one. Bamidele explained that there were two empty gas cylinders, which were intact, saying he was also reliably informed that there was no power supply throughout the night of the incident and the generator was intact. He described their late colleague as a very meticulous and highly intelligent person.

The State NMA chair­man also noted that the police report on the inci­dent contradicted the po­sitions of neighbors who rushed into hospital for a rescue bid.

“The Press Release by the Police Public Rela­tions Officer (PPRO) of the Ondo State Command narrowed the incident to electricity surge even when the neighbours confirmed that there was no electricity supply at the time of the incident. This indeed is very suspi­cious. One could have ex­pected the police to have conducted a preliminary investigation before the PPRO issues a statement on the cause of the death of the deceased,” he said.

The body however called on the police to ensure that those behind the dastardly act are brought to book.