THE Academic Staff Union of Universities has asked for
an autopsy to determine the actual cause of the death
of its former president, Prof. Festus Iyayi, our
correspondent learnt in Benin, Edo State, on Monday.
The varsity teachers’ union is said to be suspecting foul
play in the death of Iyayi who died after his vehicle was
involved in an accident with a vehicle in the convoy of
the Kogi State Governor, Capt. Idris Wada (retd.), on
November 12.
ASUU’s suspicion that the cause of Iyayi’s death could
not have been the injuries he sustained in the accident
was said to have been fuelled by an object, which
reportedly pierced through the late activist’s body.
The University of Benin chapter of ASUU, in a statement
on Monday, said, “Prof. Festus Iyayi did not just die in
an accident, but was wilfully murdered by the state and
its agents.
“At the appropriate time ASUU and Prof. Iyayi’s family
shall demand concrete answers from the state for his
murder.”
The statement, which was signed by the union’s
chairman and secretary, Dr. Anthony Monye-Emina and
Okeri Henry, respectively, said it was aware that there
were deliberate steps by the state and its agents to
distort facts of the accident as it happened.
It stated, “This started with the reckless and
irresponsible press statement that was issued by the
Kogi State Government to try to explain away the killing
of Prof. Iyayi, and there are further attempts to conceal
and distort available evidence. We shall of course meet
them with the facts.”
Warning state officials to stay away from Iyayi’s funeral
rites, ASUU said, “Iyayi’s family are capable of giving
the late professor the befitting burial he deserves.”
It also served notice that “Governor Idris Wada and
those ancilliary to the accident will be made to face trial
for the murder Prof. Iyayi.”
Commenting on the development, Iyayi family
spokesman, Prof. Robert Ebewele, said that the issue
of autopsy was ASUU’s affair and that the family would
go ahead with the burial already slated for the first
week of December.
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source: www.punchng.com/news/iyayi-ASUU-suspects-foul-play-asks-for-autopsy/