The death of three-year-old Ifeanyi Adeleke, son of popular musician, Davido, elicited widespread grief and attracted messages of commiseration from all strata of Nigerians, writes DEJI LAMBO
There are indications that the police might conduct an autopsy to determine whether Ifeanyi Adeleke, son of popular music artiste, Davido, and his fiancée, Chioma Rowland, died as a result of drowning in a swimming pool at his father’s residence in the Banana Island area of Lagos State.
An impeccable source, who confirmed the development, said it was standard practice for the police to conduct an autopsy in such a case, adding, however, that the police would desist from the move if the deceased family members were against it.
“Though the family members are not saying anything yet because they are still in shock but until anybody says stop, the standard procedure is to conduct an autopsy and we are going to follow that procedure just like in any case of death,” the source said.
Explaining further, the source said out of the eight domestic workers interrogated by the police in connection with Ifeanyi’s death, the cook and nanny, whose job was to cater for the wellbeing of the three-year-old boy, had been detained for reasons including the failure to uphold the duty of care of the minor.
The source said, “It was the work of the nanny to take care of the child (Ifeanyi); the nanny was negligent or how could the boy have left the house without her knowledge?
“The boy left the house, walked to the back where the swimming pool is situated and fell into the swimming pool. Nobody noticed until much later. At that point in time, he had drowned and was at the bottom of the swimming pool.
“So, they brought him out and rushed him to the Lagoon Hospital, where the doctors tried unsuccessfully to revive him. They left the hospital and rushed the boy to Evercare Hospital, where he was declared dead.
“They have deposited his corpse in the mortuary for an autopsy to reveal the cause of death. All the domestic workers at home when the incident happened have been questioned by the police but only the nanny and cook were detained.”
Confirming the detention of the two domestic workers, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, when contacted, said, “I spoke with the DPO and he said the nanny and the cook have been detained. Other domestic workers brought in for questioning were released.”
Possible CCTV review
However, a former Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Edward Ajogun, said closed-circuit television could help in throwing more light on the events that led to Ifeanyi’s death.
He said, “Going by the personality of Davido, one should expect that all of these security gadgets are already on the ground. Someone living at Banana Island will surely have all these security gadgets installed.
“CCTV is like a third eye; it is a technology built to put an environment under surveillance. It is built to serve the purposes of prevention and detection of crime.
“As a crime detection technology, where crime has happened, the CCTV will assist in giving an insight into how that particular crime happened and making it easier to determine who perpetrated that crime.”
Contacted for a follow-up reaction regarding the impact CCTV could play in the ongoing investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding Ifeanyi’s death at Davido’s residence, Hundeyin said, “CCTV will be reviewed if we find any installed at his house.”
The PUNCH learnt that the news of Ifeanyi’s death, which broke late Monday, threw the family members into mourning.
Celebrities, politicians, fans and sympathisers, who were traumatised by the tragic development, condoled with Davido and Chioma, who had been inconsolable since the events that led to the death of their son became public knowledge.
Amid the flurry of reactions to Ifeanyi’s death, a self-acclaimed foster brother to Davido, one Emeka Senator, while mourning over the tragedy that befell the couple, hinted in an Instagram post that an admonition about Ifeanyi’s death was ignored.
In a terse statement, he wrote, “The revelation was taken for granted. God, we are sorry.”
The PUNCH gathered that a prophet, Samuel King, had in a Facebook post tagged ‘Global Prophecy’ on January 7, 2022, foretold the death of Davido’s son.
The post read, “PRAY FOR DAVID ADELEKE, aka Davido. In a vision, I saw 2022 with so many opportunities for him, rewards and awards! This is the biggest year for him even until 2023!
“But let’s pray against any arrow of death, especially against his son! Any close loved ones. God revealed to me that it will happen if prayers are not made.”
Following the tragic development that claimed Ifeanyi’s life, the prophet, in a trending video on Tuesday, said he would reach out to Davido on how to pray to avert further tragedies.
“I’ll try my best to reach out to the family and give you the last clue and tell you how you should pray about this,” he said.
Baby mamas silent
As of the time of filing this report, no condolence post was shared on social media by the singer’s three other baby mamas.
The last post on the Instagram page of his first baby mama, Sophia Momodu, showed her advertising an energy drink. It was posted a day before the news of Ifeanyi’s death.
The singer’s third and fourth baby mamas, Amanda, and Larissa London, also didn’t have any fresh posts on social media since the news of Ifeanyi’s death broke.
However, celebrities took to their social media pages to express sadness over the tragedy that claimed the life of the three-year-old.
In their condolence messages, many of them attached pictures of candles to mourn Davido’s son.
On his part, Afrobeat musician, Femi Kuti, said, “Woke up to this terrible news. My deepest condolences to Davido and Chioma. Can’t even begin to imagine how they both must feel.”
Singer Paul Play Dairo, in his post, said, “I’m really lost for words. This is really painful. Take heart, David.”
Also, Nollywood actor, Williams Uchemba, in an Instagram post on Tuesday, said he prayed for Ifeanyi’s death to be a lie.
“I am upset, pained and confused. Nobody deserves to feel this pain. Please say a prayer for David, Chioma and the entire family. Rest up little one,” Uchemba added.
Describing Ifeanyi’s death as a rude shock, actress Iyabo Ojo, in an Instagram post, said, “I was hoping it wasn’t true. My God!!! This is so shocking, sad, devastating and extremely painful.”
Actor Muyiwa Ademola, also said parents burying their children was one of the saddest experiences in life.
Politicians react
The tragedy that befell Davido and Chioma’s son also attracted sympathy from governors and politicians, among others.
In his reaction, the All Progressives Congress presidential flagbearer, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, wished the singer and the Adeleke family the fortitude to bear the loss.
“Oluremi and I send our heartfelt and deepest condolences to David, Chioma, and the entire Adeleke family over the tragic loss of their son, Ifeanyi,” Tinubu said in a post on Twitter.
In the same vein, the People’s Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in a post using his verified Twitter handle, said, “My thoughts and prayers are with Davido and Chioma and the Adeleke family at this time. I pray for God to strengthen and comfort them.”
Sharing in the grief, Atiku’s running mate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, said as a father, he was extremely heartbroken to learn about the passing of Davido and Chioma’s son, Ifeanyi.
“As we join the entire Adeleke family to mourn the incredible loss experienced by this young couple, we pray that our God in heaven will give them strength,” Okowa added.
The Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, while condoling with the bereaved family in a Twitter post, said he could not imagine the pains they were going through at the moment.
Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in his reaction, described Ifeanyi as a lovable son.
He said, “Death leaves a heartache no words can heal and today, I express my deepest condolences to David and Chioma, over the death of their son.”
Similarly, the Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, in a Facebook post, while commiserating with the family, said he shared in their grief.
The Osun State governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, who also condoled with Davido and his family, said Ifeanyi’s death was tragic.
On its part, in a statement released by the Osun State chapter of the PDP, the party said it had suspended all political activities for the week following Ifeanyi’s death.
Signed by the chapter’s caretaker Chairman, Akindele Adekunle, the statement read in part, “Following the bereavement affecting the scion of the Adeleke family, Davido, the Osun State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party has suspended political activities for the week.
Also, Senator Bukola Saraki, while reacting to the development, in a post on Twitter, said, “My family sends our condolences to David, Chioma, and the entire Adeleke family on the loss of their adorable son, Ifeanyi. We pray for strength and healing at this difficult time.”
The Oluwo of Iwo land, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, in his condolence message to the couple, urged them to be strong in this period of grief.
- Additional reports by Segun Adewole, Babatunde Titilola, Sodiq Ojuroungbe, Olamide Famuwagun and Bola Bamigbola
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