The decomposing body of former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Prof. Albert Ilemobade, who was reportedly kidnapped by unknown gunmen last week, was discovered inside a store in his Ijapo Estate residence in the Ondo State capital on Sunday.
The former VC was allegedly abducted last Monday along with his gateman and taken to an unknown destination before his body was found.
It was gathered that the octogenarian’s decomposing body was found after two of his domestic staff were arrested by security agents in Ogun State, while trying to sell a Toyota RAV4, stolen from the residence.
After interrogation, both suspects confessed to killing Ilemobade and hiding his corpse in a store, which housed the generating set, before ecaping with his vehicle.
A signal was, however, sent to the Ondo state Police Command from Ogun State.
Vicar of the Vining Church, Dr. Ayodeji Fagbemi, who was at the Ilemobade’s residence, was quoted as saying the remains of the deceased was found in the store, soaked with diesels.
He described the death as unfortunate, just as he could not fathom any reason behind the gruesome murder of the former VC.
Fagbemi said the two suspects apprehended by the Police were domestic staff of the late former VC, adding that one of them was the driver while the other was the gateman.
He simply identified the suspects as Yemi and Daniel, explaining that the duo carried out their nefarious act such that family members were deceived into believing that the man was kidnapped by gunmen.
He said the wristwatch of the deceased and his footwears were found outside the compound as further ‘proof’ that the university don was dragged into the car by his abductors.
Recalling his last moments with the deceased, Fagbemi said: “We were together last Sunday at the Church and we celebrated together this year’s Fathers’ day, where he donated his quota to the church. He personally passed his cheque to me.
“I was surprised when the news of his abduction reached me last Monday and we have been praying along with the family believing that his abductors would soon get in touch with the family only to be informed today that his decomposed body was found in the store.
“We have lost a very great scholar and it is just too wicked for a man of his calibre to have been killed this way. It is a terrible thing and I believe those behind this killing would be brought to book,” he was quoted to have said.
Confirming the development, Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Isaac Eke, said the two suspects would be transferred to Akure and would be paraded today.
