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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Health & Science

#EndSARS: Lagos Coroner Orders Hospitals to Submit Reports on Journalist's Body

From ThisDay · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • A coroner's court in Lagos has ordered the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and the DNA center to submit reports on a body believed to be journalist Pelumi Onifade.
  • Onifade disappeared in October 2020 while covering the #EndSARS protests and his body was later found.
  • The inquest aims to determine the identity and cause of death, with reports on autopsy and DNA tests expected within 21 days.

A coroner's court in Lagos has mandated the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre to provide crucial reports within 21 days. These reports are intended to help identify a body and determine the cause of death for journalist Pelumi Onifade, who vanished in October 2020 while covering the #EndSARS protests.

The Chief Medical Examiner of LASUTH to forward to the court within 21 days the autopsy report of an unidentified body tagged No. 1385, which is believed to be that of the late journalist.

— Mrs. Temitope OladeleOrder issued during the resumed hearing of the inquest into Pelumi Onifade's death.

Investigating Magistrate Mrs. Temitope Oladele issued the order during a resumed hearing for the inquest into Onifade's death. Onifade, a reporter for Gboah TV, was reportedly arrested by police while covering the protests. His body was later discovered at the Ikorodu General Hospital mortuary.

The Chief Medical Examiner of LASUTH has been directed to submit the autopsy report for an unidentified body, tagged No. 1385, which is believed to be Onifade's. Simultaneously, the Director of the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre must provide DNA test results. Samples from the corpse and reference samples from Onifade's parents were sent for analysis.

The Director of the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre to submit within the same period the DNA test result relating to the body after samples collected from the corpse and reference samples obtained from Onifade’s parents were forwarded to the centre for analysis.

— Mrs. Temitope OladeleOrder issued during the resumed hearing of the inquest into Pelumi Onifade's death.

The inquest was initiated following a Federal High Court order after a wrongful death suit was filed by Media Rights Agenda (MRA). The suit sought an investigation into the circumstances of Onifade's death and prosecution of those responsible. Justice Ayokunle Olayinka Faji had previously directed the Attorney General to ensure an investigation and a coroner's inquest.

The inquest was convened following the orders of the Federal High Court in Lagos after MRA filed a wrongful death suit against the Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos State Government, seeking, among other reliefs, an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Onifade’s death and the prosecution of those responsible.

— Mr. Idowu AdewaleCommunications Officer of Media Rights Agenda (MRA) explaining the legal basis for the inquest.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ThisDay in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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