Assembly awaits autopsy report on matron’s death

THE Lagos State House of Assembly may have ruled out an investigation into the last moments and death of its matron, Caroline Oriola, pending the release of an autopsy report.

The Guardian gathered that Oriola had an undisclosed chronic disease condition, which was not unconnected to her death.

Oriola, in her 50s, was found dead in her office within the Assembly premises by a cleaner, last Monday, after she had gone missing for two days.

Sources at the information department of the House said the Assembly had for the meantime ruled out anything untoward about thee circumstances of the death, “knowing that she was very ill early this year and quite emaciated upon resumption.

“With the kind of person she was; very pleasant, loving, diligent and restless, she couldn’t have been easily suspected of a medical problem,” the source said.

It was gathered that Oriola had gone to the office last Saturday, August 22 and it was the last seen of her until a worker, who had gone to her office to do routine cleaning, found her on the floor.

Sources revealed that the matron had gone to her office on the fateful day to receive a consignment of drugs on behalf of the clinic.

Oriola’s husband, who had waited endlessly for her to return home, had gone to check her in the Assembly, but left when he did not find her car at the parking lot. The matron had parked at the lawmakers’ designated car park within the premise. The car, a black-coloured RAV4 Toyota model, is still at the Assembly complex.

A visit to the Oriola’s Ikeja residence in Lagos at the weekend revealed sombre mood and grief, as more family members and friends continue to sign the condolence register. To all, late Oriola’s demise was a rude shock and her amiable personality would be sorely missed. Similar testimonies were noticed on the condolence register opened within the Assembly premises.

Her husband, a medical doctor by profession, was still mourning and declined to comment on the incident. A member of the family, however, told The Guardian that plans were on the way for her burial, although for now, nothing concrete has yet been agreed between the family and their church.