Ajibola Heritage: One year after, justice yet to be served for deceased

Damola Badmos 

On the evening of 9th February 2022, an image of a young student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife trended on the statuses of people on WhatsApp praying for her survival against the mishap that occurred in one of the female hostels located at Maintenance, the school's point of entry. 

Heritage Ajibola was a part 2 student of Linguistics who resided in the Bver suites of the Maintenance Hostels. Due to a lackadaisical attitude and lack of dedication toward providing standard amenities, the young lady, unfortunately, fell into an improperly-constructed septic tank known widely as soak away during the process of withdrawing her clothes from the line. 

The incident could have been prevented if the authorities of Bver suites who charge exorbitant fees from students on a bed-space basis had properly covered the septic tank or appropriately barricaded the area due to current maintenance. 

 

Upon a prompt response from the Campus Fire Service, the girl was rescued after a while and rushed to the OAUTHC where she was pronounced dead. The then Vice Chancellor, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede visited the scene of the incident and promised to investigate critically alongside the NPF and mete out the appropriate sanctions against those involved or found culpable. But till date, nothing has been done. 

The Union Leaders hid under the disguise of "-elect" and were unable to achieve something tangible regarding the case. A push for justice has been spearheaded since then by a student of law known as Fatokun Babafemi Matthew, who has been at the forefront of obtaining #JusticeForHeritage at the court where the hostel was sued since March 2022.

However, despite all moves by the Initiator, the SU, and students generally, nothing has been done by the court as the case is currently on a pending status due to a series of consistent adjournments– a vice the Nigerian Judicial System derives joy in upholding.

For a hostel like Bver suites where students pay as much as over #100,000 individually, such an incidence is a disgrace and proof that they are only after their material gains; they have no regard for welfarism of the occupants they are housing. 

OAU KILONSHELE in a telephone conversation with Fatokun Babafemi faulted the bureaucratic delay in the judicial process stating that the Late Ajibola Heritage's father is yet to recover from the traumatic occurrence as family demands for immortalization of the deceased. He further pleads for public support in pursuit of justice for Late Ajibola Heritage. 

On this one year Anniversary, we commiserate with the family of the victim whose loss would forever be a strain on their hearts. We also enjoin the Union Leaders and University Management to step up efforts regarding this case and ensure Justice is served and the appropriate sanctions are meted out against the authorities of Bver Suites who are the cause of this incident. This is to ensure a future reoccurrence is prevented and such scenario ceases to exist in the University Community.