A Mathematics lecturer, identified as A. O. Subair, has allegedly committed suicide at the University of Ibadan (UI).
A non-academic member of staff of UI was quoted as saying that the deceased was suspected to have committed suicide at senior staff quarters, Phillipson Road, inside the university.
The source who pleaded anonymity said: “His (the lecturer) room was the only part not engulfed in the fire… there were no fire burns on his body but there’s there’s a possibility that he might have poisoned himself.”
It is understood that the lecturer had been suffering from depression after being on his Ph.D thesis for 22 years without making headway.
Another source said Mr Subair had resigned his position as lecturer in 2018 but the head of department allegedly did not process his resignation.
The source said: “His family had issues relating to childcare. He was a Lecturer 1 and had been on his Ph.D for 22 years, but he had supervised a lot of people who had overtaken him on the rung while he remained rooted to the same spot.
“He also had issues in his marriage. He and his wife disagreed over the care for one of their children. The wife sued him, and the court ruled in her favour, giving a directive that N60,000 should be withdrawn from his salary every month. So, he thought, well, if he resigned, there would be no salary to draw money from.
“His death wasn’t straightforward, like he slept during the day, died during the sleep, his house was engulfed by smoke and he was asphyxiated.”
Subair was found unconscious on Tuesday before he was taken to the university’s clinic. He was later reportedly transferred to the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, where he died Wednesday morning, a student in Mathematics department said.
