Cause of Keshi’s death still unknown, says family

(Tony Osauzo, Ighomuaye Lucky, BENIN)

Former captain and coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi, did not die of cardiac arrest, his family clarified yesterday in Benin.

Family spokesman, Richard Aburim‎en made the clarification while reacting to media report which speculated that the former coach died as a result of a cardiac arrest resuting from heart related ailment.

According to Mr. Aburimen, who spoke to journalists at Faith Mediplex hospital in Benin, where Keshi was confirmed dead, the family was yet to issue an official statement on the cause of death, contrary to media reports.

He explained that an autopsy would be conducted to ascertain the circumstances surrounding his sudden death.

“For the avoidance of doubt, let nobody speculate; that is why we are going to do an autopsy and it is going to be a toxicological autopsy. We are not embalming now; we are going to preserve until the experts come and do the proper toxicology on the body.

“At that point, we will put everything to rest. So, let nobody speculate. No official statement as to the cause of death. It‎ was sudden, apparently he was in distress. We are not medical experts, so we will not want to speculate as to how Stephen Okechukwu Keshi died”‎, he said.

Keshi’s residence at 6, Imuwahen, GRA, Benin City, was like a graveyard when our reporter visited yesterday.

A young man who declined to give his name said he was the only one in the compound, as others have left.

The twos gate‎s in the compound were locked at the time of the visit.
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A neighbour adjacent to Keshi’s compound said he was hearing of the former coach’s death for the first time from the journalists, adding that he was only aware of Mohammed Ali’s death who is expected to be buried on Friday.

Sources revealed yesterday that Ste‎phen Keshi planned to return to the U.S yesterday before his sudden death.