Decomposing body of former FUTA’s VC found in power generator house

Akure—Two domestic staff of the kidnapped 78-year-old former Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, Ondo State, Professor Albert Ilemobade, have been arrested for allegedly murdering him and dumping his corpse inside his power generator house.

The late Professor of Veterinary Medicine was said to have been strangled last Monday by his security man, identified as Daniel, and driver, Yemi, and dumped in the power generator house before fleeing with one of his vehicles, a red RAV4 SUV.

The suspects were arrested by detectives in Ogun State, while they were attempting to sell off the car.

A signal was said to have been sent to Ondo, based on the confession of the suspects that they stole the vehicle after they had murdered the professor and dumped his corpse in the power generator house.

Acting on the signal, police detectives were deployed to the house located at 40, Ikere Street, Ijapo, and his decomposing corpse was discovered.

Vanguard learned that the body was discovered in a store attached to the garage, where diesel is stored.

While police in Akure were busy working on the theory that the deceased was kidnapped, little did they know that he had been murdered and his corpse dumped a few meters away from the main house.

Missing

A week ago, family of the deceased professor had raised alarm that he was missing alongside his security man after they were both kidnapped.

The family had said the kidnappers walked into the house and mysteriously took him away with the security man.

Vanguard learned that the house maid reportedly raised the alarm that some men came looking for the deceased and drove off with him, while the 73-year-old wife was still sleeping in one of the rooms in the house.

The two suspects sold the family a dummy by dropping his wrist watch and a pair of slippers by the security gate, as if they fell from him while he was been taken away by his abductors.

The suspects, before fleeing with the stolen vehicle, locked the main gate of the house from outside with padlock, thus locking the wife and others in.

A member of the same church as the deceased, who was informed of the disappearance of the professor, reportedly engaged a welder who broke the padlock to open the gate and reported to the police.

When Vanguard visited the residence of the deceased yesterday, sympathizers milled around the wife to console her.

One of their sons, a staff of FUTA; Vicar of the Chapel of Annunciation, Rev. Ven Ayodele Fagbemi; a Chieftain of PDP, Alonge Niyi, and others, were with her.

Staff of FUTA, including the present and past Vice Chancellors and Registrar, trooped to the residence of their former colleagues, expressing shock at the development.

Speaking with Vanguard, Ven. Rev Fagbemi, said the late professor was in church penultimate Sunday, during Father’s Day celebration.

He recalled that the deceased handed over to him a cheque, being his contribution to church development.

He described his murder by the two suspects as callous.

He said the church had been praying for his release, since he was allegedly kidnapped a week ago.

The clergyman said he was told of the news that the two suspects had been arrested and had confessed that they killed him and dumped his corpse in the store during yesterday’s service.

Other domestic staff were seen pouring disinfectants inside the store to stem the stench occasioned by the decomposing corpse of the professor.

Vanguard gathered that signs that he was strangulated were discovered on his neck by the police.

‘Barbaric’

A family member told Vanguard that the two suspects, after killing the professor, poured diesel on his body, apparently to suppress the stench that would come from the decomposing corpse.

Speaking with newsmen, a former Vice Chancellor of FUTA, Professor Dayo Fasakin, said the murder of Professor Ilemobade was barbaric.

The deceased’s Personal Assistant, Ademola Bobola, described his former boss as a father figure, embodiment of wisdom, a disciplinarian and an exemplary leader.

The state Commissioner of Police, Isaac Eke, confirmed the arrest of the suspects, adding that they would be paraded today.

Vanguard