A graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Adeyemi Ajao, will not be joining fellow Batch A Corps Members during the passing out parade of the National Youth Service Corps in April 2018.
The 27-year-old, who served in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Umuahia, Abia State, was returned in a body bag to his hometown in Ogbomosho, Oyo State, on Thursday, after he allegedly died from kidney failure.
His family members, however, claimed that the graduate of Local Government Studies could not have died from the sickness, saying they suspected foul play.
The father, Akanbi, said he was called that his first child was ill on Saturday, adding that he was shocked to learn of his death the following day.
He said, “I was called on Saturday around 11am by his friend, Gabriel, that he was ill and had been rushed to a hospital.
“A doctor at the hospital asked that I send N7,500 for blood and urine tests, which I did.
“After I sent the money, I was being briefed by his friend of the treatment until that evening when he stopped picking my calls.”
He said the family pastor in Ogbomosho broke the news of the death to him on Sunday.
He said he was surprised when he was told that his son died from kidney failure, adding that since his birth, he had never fallen ill.
Akanbi said the NYSC Coordinator, Abia State, Mrs. Francesca Ifon, later called to offer condolences on the death.
“Is that how people die from kidney failure? I have handed over whoever had a hand in my son’s death to God,” he added.
Our correspondent learnt that Adeyemi would have clocked 28 on March 17.
His uncle, Dele Aleshinloye, expressed disappointment at the way the case was handled by the NYSC, saying he had reported the case to the police at the Ogbomosho division.
“Should the boy’s father pay for the treatment of the son who was on national service? He sent the money on Saturday and by Sunday, they said he died from kidney failure. How?
“Second, they didn’t inform the parents when he died. It was the family pastor they called. Was that the person who sponsored his education?
“The NYSC did not do the proper thing after the death. They didn’t mourn the death or show any sign that his death meant anything. They just sent his corpse home. And even before the tragedy was communicated to us, we had started seeing his corpse on Facebook.
“I reported to the police and they said they would do a post-mortem test. But that was not done as of the time the corpse was brought to church and buried. I don’t know how they will still to do that.”
PUNCH Metro gathered that the victim lived with other corps members in a lodge housing members of the Nigerian Christian Corpers’ Fellowship, Umuahia.
He was said to be the group’s utility officer.
The General Secretary of the NCCF, Caleb Zamani, said Adeyemi’s health condition was unknown until the situation became critical.