AAU Lecturer’s Family Rejects Sex Romp Death Claims, Alleges Murder

The family of Dr Matthew Uwuigbe, a lecturer in the Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science at Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, has rejected reports claiming that he died after a sexual encounter with a 21-year-old woman, alleging instead that he was murdered.

The family’s position was contained in a statement issued by its lawyer, Mr Etionsa Odemwingie, who described several reports about the circumstances surrounding the lecturer’s death as false. The family urged the public not to accept the accounts circulating about the incident as established facts before the conclusion of investigations.

Uwuigbe reportedly died at a hotel in the Mosco area of Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, on October 5, 2026. His death attracted public attention following reports linking the incident to an alleged sexual encounter with a 21-year-old woman.

According to the initial police account, the lecturer had checked into the hotel and was reportedly in the company of a woman identified as Angela Defa Jacob. Edo State Police Command spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, said the woman had reportedly left the room to purchase water and discovered Uwuigbe lying lifeless when she returned.

Police subsequently arrested three people in connection with the investigation: the woman, the hotel owner and the hotel manager. Their arrests were part of efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the lecturer’s death and do not, in themselves, establish criminal responsibility.

The family has strongly disputed the narrative linking Uwuigbe’s death to a sexual encounter, maintaining that the circumstances surrounding his death warrant a thorough investigation. It has alleged that the lecturer was killed, although the allegation has not been independently established as fact.

In the statement, the family disclosed that the police were expected to conduct an autopsy on the deceased’s body and vowed to make the findings public. The family considers the medical examination important to clarifying the circumstances surrounding the death and addressing conflicting accounts of the incident.

An autopsy could help determine the medical cause of death and identify findings relevant to the investigation. However, its results would need to be considered alongside other evidence, including witness statements, forensic findings and any available surveillance footage, before a definitive conclusion could be reached.

Ambrose Alli University had confirmed that Uwuigbe was a member of its academic staff while clarifying that the incident occurred outside the university’s premises. The institution also reportedly stated that the woman linked to the incident was not a student of the university.

With the family challenging the initial reports and the police investigation ongoing, the cause and precise circumstances of Uwuigbe’s death remain central questions. The outcome of the autopsy and further investigative findings are expected to help establish what happened and determine whether any criminal offence was committed. Until then, both the reports linking his death to a sexual encounter and the family’s allegation of murder remain claims requiring verification.