Fresh controversies have trailed the ongoing investigation to unravel circumstances surrounding the gruesome death of the Registrar of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo, Mr Ezekiel Adeniran.

This came as the state government launched a ‘coroner’s inquest’ to probe the death of Adeniran, who was allegedly murdered in his compound on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

Adeniran, who was appointed January 6, 2025, as the registrar of the university, was reportedly found dead at his private residence in the “Olopa to Di Woli” area along Ondo Road, Akure.

Recall that the university management confirmed the death of Adeniran in a statement released by the Head of Media and Protocol at UNIMED, Isaac Oluyi.

The statement read, “The devastating news of the registrar’s death has thrown the university into mourning, as it was shocking. He was still at his duty post on Monday, 14th July, 2025. As at the time of writing this statement, the cause of his death is yet to be ascertained.

“Mr Adeniran assumed office as the third substantive Registrar of UNIMED on the 6th January, 2025 and remained so until his sudden demise today, 17th July, 2025.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his immediate family and the entire University community in this trying moment. May God repose his soul,” the statement read.

Amid his gruesome death, sources had claimed that Adeniran was allegedly attacked and forcibly poisoned by unknown assailants.

They claimed that Adeniran had stepped out of his compound to investigate a strange noise on his roof when the attacks struck.

The suspects were said to have emerged from a nearby bush before allegedly accosting and killing him in the process.

But nearly a month after the incident, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, said the state is set to invoke the Ondo State Coroner’s Law to probe the circumstances surrounding the Adeniran’s death.

In a statement released in Akure, Ajulo noted that “reports indicated that Adeniran died under questionable circumstances on or about July 17, 2025,” adding that the probe was in the public interest to unmask those responsible.

He asked the State Chief Judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola, to assign a magistrate to conduct the inquest in line with the Coroner’s Law.

Justice Odusola has since appointed Dickson Ogunfuyi, Chief Magistrate and Head of the Ondo State Multi-Door Court, to serve as coroner.

The move comes amid controversy over conflicting claims about Adeniran’s death.

While some alleged he committed suicide by purchasing and drinking poison- possibly linked to a white paper that allegedly recommended his dismissal-his family insisted he was forced to drink the poison by unknown attackers.

Police authorities have maintained that Adeniran’s death was a “pure case of assassination.”

“The man died in the early hours of Thursday. I can confirm to you that it is a case of assassination reported at Fanibi Division,” Ayanlade Olayinka, a spokesman for the state police command, had said in a statement after his death.

Ayanlade added, “We are doing everything possible to unravel the lies and get to the root of the matter. From information available to us, two men reportedly emerged from the bush and forced a substance into another person’s mouth.

“However, we are still trying to confirm the exact details and location. But I can’t confirm to you where it actually happened, but our area of interest is to unravel who is responsible for his death.”

The registrar’s death had shocked both the university community and residents of Akure, sparking widespread calls for justice. (The Nation)