A man who died after falling from the 24th floor of the iconic 26-story Cocoa House building in Ibadan, Oyo State, has been identified, confirmed as having died from the Monday incident and has been buried.
It was gathered that Feranmi Akin-Akinye, was a 22-year-old graduate of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State (ABUAD).
Akin-Akinye was buried in Ibadan on Tuesday by his church, Winners Chapel.
Reports said he was undergoing training in cyber-security at a company based on the eighth floor of the building.
The young man fell from the 24th-floor, the museum section, of the historic building.
He had resumed for work on Monday and went with some of his colleagues to the top floor to mount a banner on the wall of the building as part of a work-related assignment.
During the process, it was learnt the frame he put his leg on was too weak to hold him up, making him to fall accidentally from the 24th floor at the instance.
The source said: “The fall resulted in multiple severe injuries. Despite efforts by emergency responders to rush him to the University College Hospital (UCH), he was confirmed dead. The family has since taken custody of his remains.
“He was immediately rushed to Adeoyo state hospital but he was already dead as his head and other parts had smashed on the roof of the security post before landing on the floor.
“The family had gone to recover the corpse from the morgue where he was immediately transfered when they got to the hospital. He has been buried.”
According to his neighbour, who pleaded for anonymity while speaking to the Press on Wednesday, Akin-Akinye lived with his mother in the Meridian area of Apata, Ibadan, while his father was based in the United States.
The source alleged that the young man was instructed to mount a large wall banner at the top of Cocoa House, a task typically reserved for professionals equipped with the proper tools and machineries.
“I blame the company for his death. He came from a good home; he was very humble and respectful. He had a car his parents gave him, but you’d never know from the way he carried himself.
“They asked him to mount a giant banner, a task usually meant for professionals. Because of his humility, he complied,” the neighbour narrated.
The neighbour also claimed that following the incident, the company attempted to downplay the tragedy.
He said: “The company said he was taken to the emergency ward even though he had already died. His mother wasn’t even contacted by the company, it was a random person who called her.
“When 32 FM, which operates within Cocoa House, tried to take photos, they were prevented. His body was quickly covered with a cloth. I heard his body was badly mangled,”the neighbour added.
It was learnt that his father’s siblings were considering legal action against the company for alleged negligence.
