The community of Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, is reeling after the unexpected death of 71-year-old Elder Omotayo Ezekiel Fajana. A high-ranking member of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Fajana was discovered deceased in his hotel room shortly before his scheduled installation as a Head Prayer Warrior, or Baba Aladura, at a local church branch.
Authorities have taken three individuals into custody as they probe the suspicious circumstances of the passing. The case came to light when the deceased’s nephew, Olaseni Sunday Olaoluwa, filed a report with the Akungba Police Division. Ondo State Police spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, noted that initial inquiries have uncovered potential irregularities regarding how the body was handled.
Investigators are currently looking into reports that church representatives and hotel employees relocated the body to an Ikare-Akoko mortuary without medical authorization or a formal death certificate. There are also claims that financial incentives may have been used to expedite this transfer, potentially to avoid scrutiny while church ceremonies proceeded. Police are working to clarify if these actions were an attempt to destroy evidence or simply a procedural error. A thorough investigation remains ongoing to confirm the cause of death and identify any potential criminal involvement.
