Management of the University of Ibadan (UI) has said that a former lecturer, Aminu Zubair, who died in his residence on the institution’s campus, died in a fire accident.
UI spokesman, Olatunji Oladejo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Saturday that Mr Zubair did not commit suicide as suggested by reports.
His colleagues claimed he had been suffering from depression for some time after being held back in getting his Ph.D for 22 years coupled with family troubles.
Some had even alleged that his death occurred in controversial circumstances and that his apartment was not caught up in flames.
But the spokesman said: “He worked in the department of Mathematics before his exit; he was a lecturer but had resigned and was no more in the service of the University of Ibadan.
“It wasn’t a suicide attempt as he was caught up in the inferno at Philipson Road, where he resides, and couldn’t escape.
“If not for our Fire Service men, who got there at the right time the whole building would have been engulfed in fire completely.
“It was only that particular room that was badly affected, he could not get out and he died out of suffocation from the fumes of the fire.”
On the reason why the lecturer was still resident in the university despite his resignation, Mr Oladejo said “he was given a place on compassionate grounds pending the time he would move out.”
He added that “the management commiserates with the family on the unfortunate death of Mr Zubair.”
Oyo police spokesman, Olugbenga Fadeyi, when contacted, said the police was not aware of the incident.
