By Damilola Abiola
A Lagos State District Coroner, Mrs. Temitope Oladele, has ordered the Medical Director of Ikorodu General Hospital to release records relating to the remains of Mr. Pelumi Onifade, a journalist who reportedly died in police custody during the #EndSARS protests in October 2020.
The coroner issued the directive on Friday, August 8, 2025, giving the hospital seven days to provide Media Rights Agenda’s (MRA) legal representatives with information on the date the body was deposited, released, or its current status.
The order came after MRA’s lawyer, Mr. Monday Arunsi, told the inquest that the Medical Director had earlier refused to release the records, citing patient confidentiality. Mr. Arunsi, who appeared alongside Ms. Jennifer Wala of Charles Musa and Co., argued that the documents were essential to the ongoing investigation.
“This is not just about paperwork; it is about truth and justice for a young man who died while performing his duty as a journalist,” Mr. Arunsi said.
The inquest into Onifade’s death was ordered by the Federal High Court in Lagos following a wrongful death suit filed by MRA against the Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos State Government. In July 2024, Justice Ayokunle Olayinka Faji directed the Lagos State Attorney-General to ensure a full investigation, including a coroner’s inquest, to determine the cause of death and identify those responsible.
Recounting events, Mr. Arunsi told the coroner that he and his colleague, Mr. Johnson Agbakaba, had visited Ikorodu General Hospital on July 31, 2025, to obtain the required records as previously directed by the court. “The Medical Director informed us that the information was confidential and could only be released upon a court order,” he said.
Granting the request, Mrs. Oladele ordered the Medical Director—or any other authorised person responsible for the records—to comply within seven days. “This order must be obeyed. It is vital to the inquest,” she said before adjourning the matter to August 19, 2025, for mention.
Mr. Onifade, a reporter with Gboah TV, was reportedly arrested by policemen attached to the Lagos State Taskforce while covering the #EndSARS protests in 2020. His body was later discovered at the Ikorodu General Hospital mortuary.
“This case is about accountability. The family deserves answers, and the public deserves transparency,” Mr. Arunsi added.