By Bose Adelaja

…Varsity student who visited WAEC to collect result crushed inside elevator
Fatai Olamilekan Odeniyi, an undergraduate of Lagos State University LASU, had dreamt of so many things in his life, part of which was to take care of  his aged parents and a shoulder, which his family members will lean on.

To achieve this, the 44-year old left his home town, Ilesha, Osun State and came to Lagos to eke a living after obtaining  his  Senior Secondary School  Certificate, SSSC. He also enrolled on part-time basis with Lagos State University LASU, and was already in 300 level.

When employment opportunity came his way, he jumped at the offer and became a staffer  of Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area, LCDA, where he  worked in the finance department. Also, he enrolled his three children in school; two of them, a set of twins, participated in the last  NECO examination.

Recently, he received an instruction to submit his SSSC to LASU without which he will not be allowed to further his education. He proceeded to West African Examinations Council, WAEC, headquarters  at 21, Hussey Street, Yaba,  last Wednesday, to obtain the  certificate.

On that fateful day, Alfa ( a Muslim cleric), as he was popularly called, had called his office in the early hours, informing his boss of his mission to WAEC and, when he was delayed more than necessary, he called a colleague, Mr. Salako Taiwo, around 11.10a.m. to say  he would soon join them in the office.

However, this was never to be as his lifeless body was later found inside a damaged elevator, right in the premises of the examinations council.

...Late Odeniyi.

Being the last caller on Odeniyi’s cell phone, Salako was called by a male voice around 11.15a.m. to report at WAEC. “Hello, do you know the owner of this number? He has been involved in a fatal accident and has been taken to the hospital. Can you rush down to WAEC office now…” the caller said.

Like a dream, Salako mobilised other colleagues and rushed to WAEC staff clinic at Yaba, only to behold the gory sight of Odeniyi lying in a pool of  his own blood. He had  head injury and his two limbs were crushed.

He was  transferred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, where he was again referred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). Unfortunately, he could not be revived as he passed on before arriving at LUTH.

As gathered, Odeniyi had collected  the certificate and was already on his way to the ground floor when he was called back to come and sign a document. To do that, he had to make use of the ill-fated elevator  not knowing this was out of use as there was no indication to this.

A source in WAEC, who pleaded anonymity, told Sunday Vanguard the elevator in question had been claiming lives in the examination council as it has been in that situation since  2001. ‘’The incident is in the news because the deceased was a government official, so many people have died inside the elevator and nothing was said about them.’’

Eye witnesses account said  none of the top officials of the examinations council was around at the time of the incident.
Odeniyi’s eldest brother, Babatunde Oguntayo said  the family was awaiting an autopsy report before taking any step on the issue.

Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA chairman was not on seat when Sunday Vanguard called at the secretariat but the Council Manager, Mr. Abdul Rafiu Fashola, said the  information at their disposal was that the deceased came to collect his certificate when he wanted to use the elevator.

He was on the eighth floor and he attempted to enter the elevator which caved in, he was later found dead,’’ Fashola added.

According to the Council Manager, their attempt to probe the matter later led to an arrest. ‘’To our dismay, WAEC invited the Divisional Police Officer of Sabo, Tony Haruna, to come and arrest us. Having listened to us, Haruna  tried to mediate between both parties but he unequivocally stated that ‘the case was a clear case of negligence of duty on the part of WAEC’.

WAEC knew that the elevator was faulty  but failed to put an inscription like “Out of bounds”, “No longer in use” or better still, put an elevator attendant  there to instruct people to steer clear of the elevator. The DPO also appealed to us to wait for the  autopsy report before taking any step.

He has been embalmed  by WAEC which is also trying to pay the  morgue bill. All these are an indication that WAEC is trying to accept responsibility for the situation. Our solicitor will take up the case and we shall petition Governor Babatunde Fashola and the Federal Ministry of Education.

Odeniyi was a young man trying to survive, he has aged parents and he was  their first son. We want to claim  damages from WAEC.”

In a statement, WAEC Deputy Director (Public Affairs), Mr.Y. D. ARI described the development as unfortunate and said the matter had been reported to the police.