LAGOS, Nigeria — A long-awaited judicial inquiry into the death of 20-year-old journalist Pelumi Onifade, who died during the #EndSARS protests in October 2020, commenced in Lagos on Wednesday, October 17, 2024.
The inquiry, led by the District Coroner, Mrs. T.R.A. Oladele, promises to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the young reporter’s death, with the aim of uncovering the truth and providing justice and closure for his family.
Mr Onifade, who was a reporter for Gboah TV, was reportedly arrested by officers attached to a Lagos State taskforce while covering the #EndSARS protests in October 2020.
Days later, his body was discovered at a mortuary in Ikorodu, Lagos, where it had been deposited without notification to his family.
His death and the subsequent confusion surrounding the location of his body have been a source of public outcry, intensifying calls for accountability from authorities.
The coroner’s inquest was convened following a wrongful death suit filed by Media Rights Agenda (MRA) against the Police and the Lagos State Government.
In the July 19, 2024, judgment in the case, Justice Ayokunle Olayinka Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos directed the Lagos State Attorney General to initiate a coroner’s inquest to ascertain the cause of Mr. Onifade’s death and determine whether any individuals or agencies should be held responsible.
Representing MRA at the inquest’s preliminary hearing were Mr. Kingsley Kenechukwu from Charles Musa and Co., and Mr. Monday Arunsi, MRA’s Legal Officer. Mr. Oluwaseun Akinde represented the Attorney General of Lagos State.
The District Coroner outlined the scope of the inquiry, stressing that it would focus on determining whether Mr. Onifade’s death was preventable, identifying the true cause of death, and examining whether negligence or culpability was involved.
“The objective is to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation by incorporating all pertinent testimonies and evidence,” she said.
At the hearing, Mrs. Bose Onifade, mother of the deceased, provided emotional testimony, recounting the harrowing days following her son’s disappearance and the conflicting reports the family received about the location of his body.
She stated that the Lagos State Taskforce first told the family in Oshodi that the body had been taken to the Ikorodu mortuary, where her husband, accompanied by members of their church, identified Pelumi’s body.
However, they were refused permission to take the body for burial.
The family was later informed that the body had been moved to the Yaba mortuary, but, upon arriving there, they were met with unclear information about its whereabouts, leading to further confusion and distress.
Mrs. Onifade’s testimony underscored the family’s anguish over the handling of her son’s remains. “The confusion and lack of clarity have exacerbated our pain,” she said.
In response, Mr. Akinde, representing the Attorney General, recommended that the Lagos State taskforce and other relevant authorities be contacted to provide official documentation regarding the transfer of Mr. Onifade’s body.
He said this would help clarify its location and address the family’s concerns.
The coroner emphasised the need for detailed records of the body’s movements between mortuaries.
She also suggested the possibility of conducting DNA testing to confirm the identity of the body, given the discrepancies in the records.
Mrs. Onifade informed the court that DNA samples had already been collected from her at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and the DNA Test Centre in CMS, Lagos, but that she had not received any follow-up or results.
Mr. Akinde assured the coroner that he would follow up on the DNA testing and ensure prompt feedback.
The coroner directed that a comprehensive list of individuals and authorities with knowledge of the case be compiled for the inquest, including taskforce members and potential witnesses.
She stressed that the inquiry’s goal is to assign accountability, if necessary, and provide the family with a sense of closure.
The coroner adjourned further proceedings to October 30, 2024, when more evidence and testimony are expected to be presented.
Pelumi Onifade’s death during the nationwide #EndSARS protests remains a symbol of the movement’s core grievances — police brutality and the need for accountability within Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies.
His family, along with media and human rights advocates, continues to seek justice as the inquiry unfolds.
