The Coroner’s Inquest into the death of Mr. Pelumi Onifade, a 20-year-old journalist with Gboah TV who died under controversial circumstances while covering the #EndSARS protests in October 2020, has been further adjourned to August 8, 2025, for further directions.
Presided over by the District Coroner, Mrs. T.R.A. Oladele, the inquest was instituted in compliance with the judgment of Justice Ayokunle Olayinka Faji of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, delivered on July 19, 2024. In the landmark decision, the Court directed the Attorney-General of Lagos State to initiate a coroner’s inquest to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding Mr. Onifade’s tragic death, ascertain the cause of death, and identify any individuals or institutions responsible.
At the hearing on February 21, 2025, the Coroner reiterated her directive to the Office of the Attorney-General to engage with critical institutions for the purpose of gathering relevant information on the recovery, identification, and medical assessment of Mr. Onifade’s body. The institutions include the DNA and Forensic Centre, the Pathology Department of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Gboah TV, the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences, the Ikorodu General Hospital, and the Yaba General Hospital.
The progress of the inquest, however, has been hampered by a series of adjournments. On March 18, 2025, the sitting was stalled due to the coroner’s ongoing maternity leave. Additionally, the pathologist, a crucial witness, was reportedly unavailable, prompting the adjournment of the matter and other cases requiring expert testimony to April 11, 2025. Unfortunately, proceedings could not resume on the rescheduled date due to the coroner’s unavoidable absence arising from personal reasons.
At the subsequent sitting on May 16, 2025, Mr. Adebola Araba appeared for the Office of the Attorney-General, while Mr. J. Agbakagba and Mr. Monday U. Arunsi represented the Onifade family and Media Rights Agenda (MRA), respectively. The matter, however, could not progress as the Attorney-General’s office had yet to comply with the coroner’s earlier directives.
In view of the continued delay, the inquest was adjourned to June 6, 2025, with a renewed directive to the Attorney-General’s office to ensure full compliance. Despite this, when the inquest resumed on June 20, 2025, compliance had still not been achieved. Mr. Araba informed the Court that the failure to act on the coroner’s instructions stemmed from the prior adjourned date falling on a public holiday and his unawareness that the matter was listed for mention. The coroner, while expressing concern over the recurring delays, reluctantly granted his application for a final adjournment and fixed July 8, 2025, for mention.
At the proceedings on July 8, 2025, Mr. Araba informed the coroner that the directives issued at the previous sitting had now been complied with, and letters had been sent to the relevant institutions. However, he reported that, so far, he had not received any positive response or feedback from any of the institutions. In particular, the Pathology Department at LASUTH responded that it had no record or information regarding the death of the deceased.
The coroner noted and inquired about the persistent absence of the deceased’s mother from recent proceedings. In response, Mr. Arunsi explained that her non-participation was due to the psychological trauma and emotional distress she continues to suffer following her son’s death. He noted that, in view of her mental state, it was considered prudent not to involve her in the inquest at this stage
Following these submissions, the coroner directed counsel representing Media Rights Agenda and the Onifade family to visit the mortuary facility at Ikorodu General Hospital to make further inquiries concerning the whereabouts and status of the deceased’s remains. She stressed the importance of obtaining concrete information to enable the inquest to move forward.
The coroner thereafter adjourned the matter to August 8, 2025, for further directions.
