By HeapNews
The judicial inquiry into the tragic death of 20-year-old Pelumi Onifade, a reporter with Gboah TV who died during the #EndSARS protests in October 2020, officially began in Lagos on October 17, 2024. The coroner’s inquest, held at the directive of a Federal High Court, aims to uncover the truth behind his death, which has sparked public outcry and demands for justice.
Mr. Onifade was reportedly arrested by policemen attached to a Lagos State taskforce while covering the protests, and his body was later found in a mortuary in Ikorodu. The inquest was ordered following a wrongful death lawsuit brought by Media Rights Agenda (MRA) against the Police and Lagos State Government, calling for a full investigation into his death.
At the preliminary hearing, presiding coroner Mrs. T.R.A. Oladele emphasized the importance of the inquiry in providing answers. She remarked, “The core objective of the inquest is to ascertain whether the death was preventable, the true cause of death, and to identify any culpability on the part of those involved.”
The inquest heard emotional testimony from Mrs. Bose Onifade, the mother of the deceased journalist. She recounted the family’s struggles to locate and secure her son’s body, amid conflicting reports from the Lagos State Taskforce. “We were first told the body was at the Ikorodu mortuary, where my husband positively identified Pelumi’s body. But when we tried to collect it, the mortuary refused to release it to us. Later, we were told the body had been moved to Yaba mortuary, but no one could give us clear information,” she explained.
The coroner directed that official documentation of the body’s transfer be obtained from the taskforce, and suggested that DNA testing might be necessary to confirm the identity of the body due to inconsistencies in the records. Mrs. Onifade revealed that her DNA had already been collected but that no feedback had been received from the testing facilities.
Read Also: MRA Condemns DSS Harassment of Citizens’ Group Leader Over FOI Request
Read Also: Lagos State Government to Comply with Court Orders on Death of #EndSARS Journalist, Pelumi Onifade
Representing the Attorney General, Mr. Oluwaseun Akinde acknowledged the family’s distress and assured the coroner that efforts would be made to track the movement of the body. “We will contact the taskforce to provide documentation, such as a serial number, to help resolve the confusion,” he said.
Mrs. Oladele adjourned further proceedings until October 30, 2024, stressing that the inquest’s primary goal is to uncover the truth, assign accountability if necessary, and provide the Onifade family with closure.
This investigation is expected to play a crucial role in answering lingering questions about the treatment of young Pelumi Onifade and the actions of authorities during the #EndSARS protests.