Coroner Orders Hospital to Release Records on Gboah TV Reporter Pelumi Onifade’s Remains
A Lagos State District Coroner, Mrs. Temitope Oladele, investigating the death of Gboah TV reporter Pelumi Onifade, who reportedly died in police custody during the #EndSARS protests of October 2020, has ordered the Medical Director of Ikorodu General Hospital to hand over all mortuary records relating to his remains. These records must be provided to the legal team from Media Rights Agenda within seven days of receiving the coroner’s order.
The directive came on Friday, August 8, 2025, following an application by MRA’s counsel, Mr. Monday Arunsi, assisted by Ms. Jennifer Wala of Charles Musa & Co. They told the coroner that the hospital had refused to release the records, citing patient confidentiality.
Oladele’s inquest was convened under the orders of the Federal High Court in Lagos, after Media Rights Agenda filed a wrongful death suit against the Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos State Government. The suit seeks a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Onifade’s death and accountability for those responsible.
In a July 19, 2024 judgment in that suit, Justice Ayokunle Olayinka Faji directed the Attorney-General of the Federation to ensure both a detailed investigation and a coroner’s inquest into Mr. Onifade’s death, with a view to identifying and prosecuting any culpable parties.
During Friday’s proceedings, Mr. Arunsi and Ms. Wala represented Mr. Onifade’s family and MRA, while Mr. Adebola Araba appeared for the Lagos State Attorney-General. Arunsi recounted the court’s July 8, 2025 directive and a subsequent visit to Ikorodu General Hospital on July 31, 2025, alongside Mr. Johnson Agbakaba of Charles Musa & Co.
They had gone to obtain the dates on which Mr. Onifade’s body was received at the mortuary, when (or if) it was released, and its current status. But the Medical Director refused, insisting the information was confidential and could only be disclosed by court order.
In response, Mr. Arunsi made an oral application requesting that the coroner compel the hospital’s records custodian to produce the mortuary files. Mrs. Oladele granted the application, giving the hospital seven days to comply.
She then adjourned the inquest to August 19, 2025, for mention, ensuring the matter returns to court to verify the hospital’s compliance with her order.
