Makinde, Keyamo Asked To Probe Death Of UI Student In Soap Factory

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, have been called upon to raise a Commission of Inquiry into the death of a student of the University of Ibadan.

The activist, who made this call in separate letters to the duo said there was an urgent need for an investigation to unravel the mystery surrounding the death of the student, Richard Gbadebo.

Gbadebo was a 300-level student of Modern European Language Department of the premier university when he died.

He was working at the factory producing WAW detergent as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic which forced the university to go on break.

Aborisade said the company had not given the bereaved family any official explanation on how the incident happened. He also called for the release of the CCTV footage at the company on the day of the incident.

The letter read in party, “We, therefore, call on the Oyo State Government to work collaboratively with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government to conduct a public inquiry into the gruesome death of Richard Gbadebo.

“Henkel Nigeria Limited and Expand Global Industries Limited should be made to produce the CCTV footage and/or grant our clients’ experts access to the CCTV installed in the companies’ premises for expert examination.

“The Commission of Inquiry should include representatives of organized labour, including the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees (NUCFLAMPE), the Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Senior Staff Association (CANMPSSA), occupational health and safety professional bodies, student union of the University of Ibadan, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and the Nigeria Bar Association, among others.”

“As far as our clients are concerned, they are determined to work in partnership with governmental authorities and use the death of Richard Gbadebo to ensure that never again shall any life be lost due to unsafe work environment, not only in Oyo State but indeed in the whole of Nigeria.”