The Coroner’s Court sitting in the Ikeja District of Lagos, investigating the death of Mr. Pelumi Onifade, a journalist with Gboah TV who was reportedly shot and arrested while covering the #EndSARS protests on October 24, 2020, on September 2, 2026, further adjourned the proceedings to September 16, 2026, for a continuation of the proceedings, as the court was unable to sit.
The latest adjournment follows the earlier rescheduling of the matter, which was initially fixed for July 29, 2026, but was subsequently moved to September 2, 2026. The matter has now been further adjourned to Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
At the July 7, 2026 sitting, the Coroner, Mrs. T. R. A. Oladele, directed that efforts be made to commence taking evidence from material witnesses while the Court continued to await the autopsy report from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
The Court had earlier been informed that the autopsy report was substantially completed by the Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, LASUTH, but was awaiting the endorsement of the Medical Examiner who conducted the examination. The Court was also informed that the Medical Examiner was away at the time.
Meanwhile, counsel to Media Rights Agenda and the family of the deceased, Mr. Alimi Adamu, leading Victor John and Monday Arunsi, had urged the Court to proceed with the hearing of witnesses rather than suspend the inquest pending the release of the autopsy report. Recall that the DNA evidence identifying the deceased had previously been admitted by the Court on June 23, 2026.
The Court subsequently directed that relevant witnesses be identified and summoned. Among those identified were the deceased’s colleague, who was reportedly with him shortly before the shooting; police officers connected with the recovery of his body and the preparation of relevant police records; and any police officer involved in investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
The Court also identified ASP Adeyemi Adewale and Inspector A. Augustine among the police officers whose evidence may be relevant to the proceedings. The Director of Gboah TV was also identified as a potential witness based on information presented to the Court concerning his presence at the scene shortly after the shooting.
Following the July 7 sitting, the matter was scheduled to resume on July 29, 2026. However, the parties were subsequently informed that the sitting would not hold because the presiding Coroner, Mrs. T. R. A. Oladele of Magistrate Court 6, Ikeja, was scheduled to attend a training programme in Abuja from July 27 to 29, 2026.
The matter was consequently adjourned to September 2, 2026.
On September 2, 2026, the parties were again informed that the scheduled sitting would not proceed as the presiding Coroner was on official engagement. The matter was accordingly further adjourned to Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
