A mild drama occurred today at the ongoing Coroner inquest set up by the State Government of Osun to investigate the death of late Sen. Isiaka Adeleke in Osogbo, the State capital, as one Alfred Aderibigbe, the man who was alleged to have administered the deceased with ban substances hours before his demise, requested for 48 hours grace to get himself psychologically fit for his testimony.
A visibly shaken Aderibigbe who was drenched in his sweat, fought hard to dry the tears that flowed down his eyes. For the few minutes he took the stand, he was shaking, frightful and possessed an unstable appearance.
Aderibigbe’s lawyer Lekan Alabi had earlier called for an adjournment due to the unavailability of an interpreter for his client.
The lawyer said the health assistant is not fluent in English and lamented the short notice of appearance on the matter.
But leading Aderibigbe in evidence in Yoruba language, the nurse said he met Adeleke over 20 years ago while working at the State Hospital, Ede.
He said he had treated a girl who was rushed to the facility due to convulsion when they met.
Aderibigbe said it was later he found out that the little girl was Adeleke’s daughter and the Senator later sent for him and gave him some money.
The nurse also added that the late senator treated him like a son after then as they became close over time.
Aderibigbe said: “After a while, I started treating him (medically). Whenever he was given prescription and he probably didn’t complete his treatment in Abuja, I would administer the remaining.”
“He had other nurses in Abuja, and some in Lagos.
“I’m his nurse in Ede. I don’t know any of them (other nurses), but I know that whenever he was given injection by those nurses, he would show me in order to know the new area to inject him.
“He was hypertensive and he had gouty arthritis. I was close to him. I used to advise him to rest for him to be okay,”Aderibigbe said.
“He stopped smoking for a long time. He drank alcoholic drinks.”
Consequently, his lawyer, Mr Lekan Alabi, presented a motion for adjournment, arguing that the summon for his client to come and testify was delivered to him yesterday. He further averred that his client, Mr. Aderibigbe was psychologically unfit to give his testimony.
Mr. Alabi further pleaded with the court for Aderibigbe’s hearing to be postponed untilFriday, 19th May 2017 to allow his client enough time prepare for the testimony in court.
In his ruling, the chairman of Coroner inquest, Olusegun Ayilara, assured Mr. Aderibigbe that it wasn’t criminal proceedings, but a coroner’s inquest to determine what took place.
He further adjourned Aderibigbe’s hearing tillThursday, 18th of May, 2017.
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