£20,000 reward to find missing Coventry University student

Coventry University has put up a £20,000 reward for information leading to the discovery of a missing overseas student.



Ozi Akerele was last seen in the north of the city on January 31 after a night out with friends.

Despite a series of searches in the area - including stretches of the Coventry Canal - the 24-year-old Nigerian hasn’t been seen since.

Today Coventry University revealed that a £20,000 reward has been put forward by an anonymous donor.

A statement on the university’s website says: “This offer shall remain in force until 31 December 2015.

“This reward applies only to new, material information given to the police and which is directly responsible for locating Ozi.

“It also applies only to information which is not already in the possession of the police as of 8 May 2015.

“Qualification for and payment of the reward shall be at the sole discretion of Coventry University.”

Police returned to the Coventry Canal today to complete further searches of the area.

These latest searches follow a sweep of the canal carried out earlier in the year using sonar equipment on loan from the Home Office.

It’s widely believed that after leaving Iglu in Spon Street at 3.30am on January 31 Ozi attempted to return home – but took a wrong turn.

Instead of heading up Sky Blue Way, and returning to his home in Richmond Street, Stoke, he was caught on CCTV cameras heading up Foleshill Road.

After walking for several hours he attempted to flag down two cars, and hasn’t been seen since they drove off.

His mother Irene Akerele flew over from Abuja in Nigeria to assist the police in their inquiries.

She leafletted around Coventry in an effort to raise Ozi’s profile.

Anyone with information about Ozi’s whereabouts should call police on 101.

A body found in a disused churchyard in Coventry is thought to be that of missing student Ozi Akerele.



Officers were called after human remains were found by a member of the public in dense undergrowth off Albert Fearn Gardens, in Foleshill, on Thursday.

West Midlands Police believe the body to be that of 24-year-old Ozi who disappeared after a night out with friends in the early hours of January 31, 2015.

He had only been in the country for a few weeks after starting a masters degree in management and information technology at Coventry University.

Police said formal identification was still to take place and that Ozi’s family have been informed and are being supported by officers.

A post mortem examination carried out on Friday was inconclusive and further tests will be carried out to establish the cause of death, although detectives do not believe it to be suspicious.

Detectives believe he lost his way home in freezing temperatures.

Numerous searches had been carried out in the area and in the canals following Ozi’s disappearance.

His mother had also travelled from his native Nigeria to Coventry to make an emotional plea on the first anniversary of his disappearance.

The disused churchyard, which can be seen from Old Church Road, is now overgrown and has beer cans and other rubbish thrown over the fence.

Investigation launched into police response to missing Coventry University student Ozi Akerele

An investigation has been launched into the way police responded to reports of a missing Coventry University student whose body was later found on waste ground near where he was last seen.

Ozi Akerele, aged 24, was reported missing after failing to return home from a night out with friends at Iglu nightclub in Coventry city centre on January 31, 2015.

His body was found in a churchyard, off Albert Fearns Garden, in Foleshill, on April 21 after two children climbed over a fence onto the waste land to retrieve their ball.

Ozi’s identification has only recently been confirmed by forensic tests.

A post-mortem examination that was carried out shortly after the discovery of his body was inconclusive.

Further tests were ordered to help establish the cause of death, although at the time detectives said they did not believe it to be suspicious.

It’s believed Ozi took a wrong turn on his walk home after a night out and got lost.

He had only been in the country for a few weeks after starting a masters degree in management and information technology.

Ozi was last seen in nearby Old Church Road at 7.50am when he tried to flag down a motorist for help.

His last movements were caught on CCTV.

Numerous searches had been carried out in the area and in the canals following Ozi’s disappearance.

A fresh appeal for information was also launched on January 29, where police said that they were no longer searching canals for the missing man.

His mother had also travelled from his native Nigeria to Coventry to make an emotional plea on the first anniversary of his disappearance.

West Midlands Police referred the matter to the IPCC which is now conducting an independent investigation into the actions of the force after Ozi was reported missing.

IPCC Commissioner for the West Midlands, Derrick Campbell, said: “We have extended our condolences to Mr Akerele’s family at this sad time for them and we will keep them updated on our inquiries.

“We can assure them that we will carry out a thorough investigation into the circumstances to establish what happened and whether any lessons can be learned from this young man’s tragic death.”

This was a sad case, but I don't believe the police did anything fundamentally wrong. They took the case seriously and searched the canal a couple of times.

It's easy to beat the boys in blue, but generally I think the do a good job in very trying circumstances.