The Coroner’s Court investigating the 2020 death of journalist Pelumi Onifade has issued a strict 14-day ultimatum to the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). The order demands a definitive report on the location and status of an unidentified body, tagged ‘1385’, which is central to resolving the years-long inquiry.
The deceased, a reporter with Gboah TV, was reportedly shot and arrested by security agents while covering the #EndSARS protests on October 24, 2020. His family has been seeking closure and accountability for over five years.
A Missing Link in the Investigation
During the proceedings held on March 3, 2026, Magistrate Mrs. Temitope Oladele expressed concern over the hospital’s failure to account for body 1385. The remains were reportedly transferred from Ikorodu General Hospital to LASUTH on November 3, 2020, with a post-mortem examination conducted later that month.
The court had previously ordered a report on the body on November 18, 2025, but compliance was stalled by a protracted strike at the teaching hospital. With the strike now suspended, the court is demanding immediate transparency.
“The Chief Medical Director is hereby ordered to give a report of the body with the tag number 1385, said to have been received on behalf of LASUTH on 3rd November 2020, within fourteen (14) days of receipt of this Order,” Magistrate Oladele ruled.
Legal Pressure and Family Grief
The push for a more specific order came from Mr. Alimi Adamu, lead counsel representing the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and the Onifade family. Adamu noted that the previous order was directed generally at the institution, whereas the new mandate holds the Chief Medical Director personally responsible for the submission.
The journalist’s parents, Mr. Olatunde and Mrs. Bose Onifade, were present in the gallery. Addressing the grieving couple directly, Magistrate Oladele formally expressed her condolences for the loss of their son before proceeding with the legal technicalities.
Counsel for the family, Mr. Monday Arunsi, informed the court that while administrative officials at LASUTH acknowledged receiving the court’s prior instructions, they could not confirm whether any internal steps had been taken to comply.
The Road to Justice
The inquest was born out of a Federal High Court judgment delivered on July 19, 2024. Justice Ayokunle Olayinka Faji had ordered the Lagos State Government to investigate the circumstances of Onifade’s death, identify the perpetrators, and prosecute those responsible.
The MRA, which initiated the original lawsuit against the Police and the State Government, maintains that the identification of body 1385 is a critical step in confirming the fate of the young journalist and ensuring that those who pulled the trigger are brought to justice.
The matter has been adjourned to March 24, 2026, for a report on compliance.
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