FUTA student commits suicide over fraud allegation

More details have emerged on why the 300-level student of the department of Industrial Design, Olona Babajide Joseph committed suicide in his off-campus apartment located in Aule in Akure, the Ondo State Capital. 

NRTC had earlier reported that the student was found hanging lifeless in his room on the 21st of January, 2023.

In a report published by the institution Union of Campus Journalists(UCJ FUTA), Joseph took his life over a fraud allegation. 

Also read, FUTA student commits suicide

In an exclusive interview with UCJ FUTA, Enoch Omoniyi, the deceased close friend and neighbour, said when school resumed for the 2021/2022 session, late Joseph [the financial secretary of the department association] received departmental due on behalf of the Treasurer of the department who was not around to receive payment. 

Recounting further, he said the departmental President requested that Joseph should send one hundred thousand naira (₦100,000) to him for a departmental project which he sent using his digital bank — Carbon; was debited but the President claimed not to receive the payment.

According to him, several mails were sent to the bank to resolve the issue but proved abortive which resulted in pressure with everyone secluded him. 

Also read, FUTA announces resumption date, begin lectures on Monday

He said till the deceased committed suicide, he did not attended lectures since resumption from the Christmas break because of the pressure mounted on him. 

He further maintained that the deceased informed him that his HOD called his daddy and said he engaged in fraud which made him very disturbed. 

He said: “Yesterday morning, I went to get my phone from Joseph because his phone is faulty and we both shared my phone. He informed me that his HOD called his daddy and said he engaged in fraud. He was very disturbed about it. He requested to follow me to my office at the Students’ Union Building (SUB) because he didn’t want to stay alone. I left him at the office to attend the homecoming event that was held at T.I Francis auditorium and also watched the Awopegba match.

“When I got back to the office, he had already locked the office door. He came back to give me the keys and left. When I got home, I forced him to eat. At 7:40pm, I knocked his door but he didn’t open. I left thinking he was still angry with me for leaving him at the office. At 8:30pm, I knocked again but there was no response. At 10:01pm, I tried again but there was no response and I went to sleep.

“This morning, I went to knock around 8am but there was no response. I had to go and check through his window and I saw him hanging from the ceiling.”

Departmental president react 

According to UCJ FUTA, the President of the department association, Owomoyela Oladotun,  clarified that Joseph allegedly mismanaged the departmental funds which he thought was not the reason he took his life. 

He confirmed that the deceased was a student of the department and the financial secretary of the association, adding that he mismanaged the association funds and was asked to remit it back.

His words, “After the first semester examination (last year), he promised to pay back the money in installments. Since then, I haven’t seen him. I just got a call this morning that he committed suicide. It seems like a dream because the money isn’t worth him taking his life.”

Institution confirm incident

The Head of Media and Protocols Unit of the institution, Mr Adegbenro Adebanjo, confirmed the incident to newsmen. 

He said the university is aware of the very sad and unfortunate development, noting that the Students Affairs Division has gotten in touch with the family as well as providing support services.

“Counsellors are also providing needed support for students who may have been impacted by the sad development.” He said. 

“The police authorities have also been duly informed. Our prayers are with the family at this difficult moment. May the Lord grant the family and friends of the deceased the fortitude to bear the irreparable.”