The Coroner Court investigating the controversial death of 20-year-old Gboah TV journalist, Mr. Pelumi Onifade, has clamped down on bureaucracies delaying justice, reports ITREALMS.
In a decisive move, the court ordered the Chief Medical Examiner of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and the Director of the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre to produce outstanding autopsy and DNA reports within 21 days.
The investigative magistrate, Mrs. Temitope Oladele, issued the parallel orders at the resumed hearing of the inquest into the death of the young reporter, who was shot and arrested by the Lagos State Task Force while covering the #EndSARS protests on October 24, 2020. His body was later discovered at the Ikorodu General Hospital mortuary.
The court’s fresh orders target a specific body tagged No. 1385, strongly believed to be that of the late journalist:
LASUTH Mandate: The Chief Medical Examiner must submit the full autopsy report conducted on body Tag No. 1385 to the court within 21 days.
Forensic Centre Mandate: The Director of the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre must forward the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) test result matching samples taken from the body and Mr. Onifade’s parents within the same 21-day timeline.
The push for these fresh orders followed an application by human rights lawyer Mr. Alimi Adamu, who is leading Mr. Monday Arunsi and Mr. Somto Afulukwe on behalf of Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and the Onifade family.
Mr. Adamu exposed a clerical bottleneck regarding the location of the body. While a previous court order directed the Yaba General Hospital to account for the remains, a reviewed LASUTH report dated March 24, 2026, revealed that body Tag No. 1385 had actually been transferred to the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) Mortuary, Yaba, for storage.
"From the LASUTH report, it is clear that it is the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Yaba, and not Yaba General Hospital, that has custody of the body in question," Mr. Adamu clarified, urging the court to compel the custody chain to provide final results.
During the proceedings, the Coroner expressed strong concerns regarding the operational capacity of the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, referencing reports that the facility was burnt down during the 2020 #EndSARS unrest.
However, Mr. Adamu firmly corrected the notion, informing the court that the Centre is fully functional and currently operating out of its corporate office located at No. 48 Broad Street, Lagos.
This inquest is a direct fallout of a landmarks judicial victory won by the Media Rights Agenda (MRA). The group had filed a wrongful death suit against the Nigerian Police and the Lagos State Government.
On July 19, 2024, Federal High Court Justice Ayokunle Olayinka Faji ruled in favor of the MRA, mandating the Attorney-General of Lagos State to institute a coroner's inquest to:
Ascertain the exact cause of Pelumi Onifade's death.
Swiftly identify, arrest, and prosecute the security personnel responsible.
Magistrate Oladele noted that since LASUTH's internal documents confirm that autopsies and DNA matches were initiated on six bodies received on November 3, 2020 (including Tag No. 1385), there is no legal ground for further delays.
The matter has been adjourned to June 23, 2026, for the continuation of proceedings, at which point both state medical institutions are expected to have submitted their findings.
© 2026 ITREALMS. Accountability, Press Freedom, and Tech-Driven Journalism.
The investigative magistrate, Mrs. Temitope Oladele, issued the parallel orders at the resumed hearing of the inquest into the death of the young reporter, who was shot and arrested by the Lagos State Task Force while covering the #EndSARS protests on October 24, 2020. His body was later discovered at the Ikorodu General Hospital mortuary.
The court’s fresh orders target a specific body tagged No. 1385, strongly believed to be that of the late journalist:
LASUTH Mandate: The Chief Medical Examiner must submit the full autopsy report conducted on body Tag No. 1385 to the court within 21 days.
Forensic Centre Mandate: The Director of the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre must forward the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) test result matching samples taken from the body and Mr. Onifade’s parents within the same 21-day timeline.
The push for these fresh orders followed an application by human rights lawyer Mr. Alimi Adamu, who is leading Mr. Monday Arunsi and Mr. Somto Afulukwe on behalf of Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and the Onifade family.
Mr. Adamu exposed a clerical bottleneck regarding the location of the body. While a previous court order directed the Yaba General Hospital to account for the remains, a reviewed LASUTH report dated March 24, 2026, revealed that body Tag No. 1385 had actually been transferred to the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) Mortuary, Yaba, for storage.
"From the LASUTH report, it is clear that it is the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Yaba, and not Yaba General Hospital, that has custody of the body in question," Mr. Adamu clarified, urging the court to compel the custody chain to provide final results.
During the proceedings, the Coroner expressed strong concerns regarding the operational capacity of the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, referencing reports that the facility was burnt down during the 2020 #EndSARS unrest.
However, Mr. Adamu firmly corrected the notion, informing the court that the Centre is fully functional and currently operating out of its corporate office located at No. 48 Broad Street, Lagos.
This inquest is a direct fallout of a landmarks judicial victory won by the Media Rights Agenda (MRA). The group had filed a wrongful death suit against the Nigerian Police and the Lagos State Government.
On July 19, 2024, Federal High Court Justice Ayokunle Olayinka Faji ruled in favor of the MRA, mandating the Attorney-General of Lagos State to institute a coroner's inquest to:
Ascertain the exact cause of Pelumi Onifade's death.
Swiftly identify, arrest, and prosecute the security personnel responsible.
Magistrate Oladele noted that since LASUTH's internal documents confirm that autopsies and DNA matches were initiated on six bodies received on November 3, 2020 (including Tag No. 1385), there is no legal ground for further delays.
The matter has been adjourned to June 23, 2026, for the continuation of proceedings, at which point both state medical institutions are expected to have submitted their findings.
© 2026 ITREALMS. Accountability, Press Freedom, and Tech-Driven Journalism.
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