The family of Abdulquadri Olatunji, a man allegedly killed while in police custody at the Kwara State Police Command in Ilorin, has called on the Nigeria police to release the autopsy report conducted over a month ago.
Speaking with SaharaReporters on Friday, the family expressed concerns about a potential cover-up, accusing the police of delaying the report to manipulate its findings.
They alleged that the police might claim that Olatunji died of a heart attack or slumped, in an attempt to absolve officers of responsibility.
“The delay in releasing the autopsy report is deeply suspicious. We fear the police may come up with a narrative that suits them, but we demand transparency and justice for our son,” the family said.
The family identified three officers—Emmanuel Ajiboye, Adekunle Emmanuel Ogunshola, and Oluwole Gbanteko—as those responsible for the alleged killing.
However, the family vows to pursue legal action if the autopsy report is not released promptly and if justice is not served.
A police source said that, contrary to earlier reports, the deceased was not killed inside the cell.
“The guy was not killed in the cell. The entire incident occurred behind the counter. The officers involved attempted to cover up the situation by dragging the deceased into the cell, but they left bloodstains along the way.
“Unfortunately for them, they were unable to clean the stains properly, which exposed their actions,” he said.
In November 22, 2024, it was reported that a man identified as Mr Jimoh Abdulquadri had reportedly died while in detention at the Kwara State Police Command. The incident occurred on Friday.
Abdulquadri was allegedly beaten to death by police officers.
It was learnt that Abdulquadri was brought in for questioning regarding an alleged case of obtaining N220,000 under false pretences.
Counsel for the deceased, Olukayode Oloyede, said during a press conference held in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Friday that Olatunji died while in police custody on December 20, 2024.
He explained that despite extensive efforts and resources expended to determine the cause of Olatunji’s death, the police have refused to provide the family with the results of the autopsy conducted over a month ago.
Oloyede explained that the family learned that the autopsy report was released two weeks ago, yet the Kwara State Police Command has been evading their responsibility to share a copy of the findings with them.
He said, “The report is out and what we have in the report clearly stated that Olatunji was not as a result of him hanging himself. We should rule out the issue of hanging out completely, that causes is yet to be make known unto us.
“My people here, this is not our first time, second time or third time of having affair with the police. For them to come up now, they will come up with their own report. They may come up and tell us that the guy died of heart attack. They may come up and tell us that the guy slumped.
“My good people we are no longer morons. Some body that died of heart attack will not be gushing out blood anywhere, and somebody that slumped will not be releasing blood from anywhere. We have the pictures of where the guy died. We have everything, we are still waiting for the report.”
Olukayode said the actions of the Nigerian police in the state are not only illegal but barbaric.
“Here in this part of the country the police have failed to accord even the constitution of federal Republic of Nigeria normal courtesy and respect of persons, at this junction when Nigeria is undergoing restructuring. Nigerian police are not contributing to this, especially in Kwara command.”
Olukayode said that justice has not been served regarding the death of Olatunji.
He alleged that three policemen – Emmanuel Ajiboye, Adekunle Emmanuel Ogunshola and Oluwole Gbanteko – are involved in the alleged killing of Olatunji.
Olukayode stated that, to date, only two of the officers have been confirmed to be in police custody.
However, they have not been publicly paraded, and the police have merely informed the family about their detention.
He added that while the officers’ custody status may be known to the authorities, it remains hidden from the public and the deceased’s family, who have not been allowed to see them
“They are hiding the truth and in a short but they will tell us that police are your friends,” he said.
Speaking with the media, the mother of the deceased, Alhaja Adija Jimoh, expressed her anguish and called for justice, declaring that divine wrath would befall those responsible for her son’s death and those aiding the officers involved in the killing of Olatunji.
She said, “All those involved in the killing of my son, including those aiding the officers, will not reap the fruits of their labour unless they allow justice to prevail.
“Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, you have remained silent on this matter because it is not your son. All I want is justice for my son, who was killed by those meant to uphold the law.
“Can AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq fold his hands and watch as prominent members of society cry for justice without making any effort to investigate or meet with the deceased’s family?
“My son was the breadwinner of the family. He was not a lazy person; he engaged in all kinds of legitimate businesses to provide for the family. He took care of me and his father. Now, they have killed him.”
She further explained the challenges the family is facing, revealing that the deceased’s two daughters have stopped attending school due to their father’s untimely death at the hands of the Nigerian police.
Alhaja Adija called on Nigerian human rights organisations, Amnesty International, human rights activists, and civil rights groups to amplify her voice and help her get justice for her son.
Meanwhile, Owolabi Olumuyiwa, a prominent member of Concerned Citizens, accused the police of misleading the family by telling one lie after another and redirecting them to the doctor, who in turn sent them back to the police.
“They fully know that the results do not in any way indicate that the late Olatunji hanged himself.
“We, the family of Olatunji Jimoh and the Balogun Fulani Community of Kwara State, fume against how the Kwara State Police Command is trying hard to manipulate the results and change narrative regarding the cause of his death.
“We are appealing to Inspector General of Police to look deeply into this situation, maybe help to transfer the case out of Kwara State Police Command because the family don’t believe in them as they are delaying the investigation because you can’t be a judge in your own case.
“We are demanding the immediate release of the autopsy results and pleading with the Nigeria Police to charge the perpetrators to court because justice delayed is justice denied.”
“We are asking the Governor of Kwara State, Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, to help us look into this case as a father and as the chief security officer of the state. Mr. Governor Sir, please don’t wait until election time before you realize that you have some youth somewhere to campaign or vote for you,” he added.
He added, “We call the attention of Inspector General of Police to what is happening in Ilorin, as the case was taken away from the table of the DCCID you instructed to conduct the investigation on the case of Olatunji and later redeployed him just because of this case, knowing fully well that the man is upright and he is a man of integrity.
“He refused to join hands with them to change the narrative on the assignment you gave him. Right now, as we speak, he has already submitted the report of the investigation to the table of the CP before his transfer, but to our surprise, the case has been transferred to a junior officer, who doesn’t even care nor show empathy to the family of the late Olatunji.”
Owolabi explained that Olatunji left behind two kids and aged parents who are now receiving treatment in the general hospital.
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