Dr. David Akintayo Oguntuase, the Ondo medical doctor who was burnt to death at his place of work on Christmas eve, was killed by hired assassins, his elder brother, Otunba Ben Oguntuase, has said.

Otunba Oguntuase in a statement issued yesterday declared that Dr. David, a Consultant Pediatrician and Head of Pediatrics at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, “was brutally murdered by assassins/arsonists.”

He described the murder as “a most wicked act,” and demanded justice. The senior Oguntuase dismissed speculations that Dr. David either committed suicide or died in a gas explosion. He alleged that his late brother had problems with Dr. Olufemi Omotoso, the MD of the Federal Medical Centre, Owo.

“The witch cried yesterday, the child died today! Only in this case, it has even more obviously gone beyond mere speculation into the realm of reality as to where the Police should focus their searchlight to unearth the criminals and their sponsor,” he said.

Below is the text of Otunba Oguntuase’s statement:

“In the night of December 24/25 2014 when all men of goodwill were celebrating the season of rebirth and renewal of mankind, a group of murderers, assassins and arsonists were sponsored and contracted to most brutally assassinate an innocent person who was doing no more than giving to humanity the benefits of his professional training. Dr. David Akintayo Oguntuase, a Consultant Pediatrician and Head of Pediatrics at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo was brutally murdered by assassins/arsonists, leaving behind a most gory sight.

“The picture is the tragic remain left behind by the assassins who obviously took their time to set the body ablaze after killing him. Evidently, they shot him in the main clinic area and carried his body to the room in the back area where they left him face down. Not done, they severed his hands and legs before proceeding to douse the body with petrol. The rest of the building on the inside was sprinkled with petrol before it was all set ablaze. It obviously was an inferno that raged leading the building to implode as the roof caved inward. Interestingly, the neighbouring buildings were not affected. No doubt this was a most professional job that was obviously very carefully contracted and crafted.

“The Oguntuase family is aware of some running issues between David and the MD of the Federal Medical Centre, Owo. Some six weeks ago, on the trumped up, very false, baseless and malicious allegation by Dr. Olufemi Omotoso that David and some others in the FMC were planning to kill him, David was arrested by the Police in Owo where, upon investigation, the falsity of the allegation was established. We are aware that this same MD has been a regular guest of the ICPC and very recently, EFCC was granted leave to arrest and prosecute this same man.

“The witch cried yesterday, the child died today! Only in this case, it has even more obviously gone beyond mere speculation into the realm of reality as to where the Police should focus their searchlight to unearth the criminals and their sponsor.

“Some ill-informed commentators and reporters are hastily coming up with some spurious speculations over this tragedy. Some have suggested that it was as a result of an inferno which was caused by gas explosion! Some even claimed it was suicide! Haba! For us in the family this even goes further to confirm the reality of a carefully scripted assassination plot with arrangements in place to deal with scenarios that may emerge afterwards. However, there is enough trace and evidence left in their trail to follow up on the source of this dastardly crime. After all, there is really no perfect crime!

“For the record, David did NOT commit suicide and there was NO gas explosion! He was murdered in cold blood in a most wicked manner, dismembered and then set ablaze. There is enough evidence at the crime scene to assist the investigative authorities.

“While thanking members of the Nigerian Medical Association, who David Akintayo Oguntuase faithfully served in various capacities, for sharing our grief and their solidarity with the family, we call on the Police authorities to do the needful in investigating this matter. The cruelty of the act should be enough to gear the Police to get to the bottom. Terrorists who are the bane of the nation today are no more wicked and evil than these hired assassins have demonstrated.

“We also would in the meantime, thank His Excellency Dr. Olusegun Mimiko whose officials have paid solidarity visits to the family. We sincerely hope that he will sustain personal interest in unravelling this crime if only in tribute to the deceased prior association with him. Please this crime must NOT go unresolved. You don’t callously make a charcoal or suya of another human being and expect to get away scot free. Such wicked act must not go unpunished.”

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