Metro

Court Adjourns As Delta Family’s Search For Corpse Hits Five Months

Published

1 year ago

April 10, 2025

A Delta State High Court sitting in the Isiokolo Judicial Division has adjourned the hearing till April 17, 2025, in a case of alleged mysterious disappearance of the corpse of a 78-year-old man, Joseph Ighorhiohwunu since November 21, 2024.

The corpse of Ighorhiohwunu had allegedly disappeared from the Nigerian Navy Hospital mortuary, Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State after children of the deceased, Omokiniovo Ighorhiohwunu and Mr. Duke Ighorhiohwunu, deposited the corpse at the mortuary on November 21, 2024.

The suit was filed as a fundamental human rights application under suit no. HCI/FR/32/2024 was brought before the court and filed in-person by one of the children of the deceased, Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho, a human rights activist, who claimed to be acting on behalf of the deceased and in the public interest.

In the originating process, the applicant had claimed that “Joseph Ighorhiohwunu died while receiving treatment at Group Christian Medical Centre, Effurun” without his knowledge and that he was only made aware of the deceased’s death on 21st November 2024, the day he died.

The applicant further claimed that “the deceased was not diagnosed with a verifiable medical condition and was deposited at the Nigerian Navy Hospital, Effurun on November 21, 2024.”

The applicant accused several members of the deceased’s family — namely Mr Michael Igho-Amaka, Mr Onajite Ighorhiohwunu, Mr Felix Ighorhiohwunu, Mrs Ese Ighorhiohwunu, Mr Duke Ighorhiohwunu and Mr Sunday Ighorhiohwunu — of colluding to unlawfully remove the corpse from the Nigerian Navy Hospital Effurun and allegedly using the family compound at No.127 Urhu-Egbe Street, Okpara-Inland as an illegal cemetery.

The applicant claims that the family has secretly made burial arrangements and constructed a tomb for the deceased at that location during the pendency of this case and police investigation.

The applicant consequently urged the court to compel all eleven respondents to disclose the whereabouts of the missing corpse, alleging that the body may have been diverted for spiritual or ritual purposes.

At the resumed hearing of the case on April 7, 2025, counsel for the applicant, Andrew Elekeokwuri Esq, informed the court that the applicant had filed a “further and better affidavit” concerning the allegedly missing corpse of the deceased.

In response, the counsel for the 1st to 8th respondents, Barr. A.O.Aderere and the 11th respondent, His Greatness Agadaigho who were present in court, raised objections because they had not been served with the said processes.

The trial Judge, Hon. Justice O. Aforkeya consequently directed the court bailiff to serve relevant court processes on the respective respondents’ counsel present in court.

As regards the 9th respondent (Chairman, Ethiope East Local Government Area) and the 10th respondent (Nigeria Navy Hospital, Effurun), who were neither present nor represented in the court, the judge further ordered the bailiff to serve them with the court processes alongside the hearing notices.

Following preliminary arguments and a review of the evidence, Justice Aforkeya adjourned the matter to April 17, 2025, for the continuation of the hearing.

Meanwhile, counsel to the 11th respondent, His Greatness Agadaigho Esq., has filed a motion on notice and a counter affidavit on the same day (7th April 2025), seeking an order granting leave to the Applicant/Respondent to claim damages in the sum of N5m against the plaintiff/applicant/respondent, in favour of the 11th respondent.

The motion on notice which was supported by a 9-paragraph affidavit, partly averred that “the 11th Respondent in this suit professionally and comprehensively managed the health of the deceased, Late Joseph Ighorhiohwunu, from 2018 until his death on Thursday, the 21st day of November 2024.”
(PUNCH)

Metro

Edo Police Arrest Two Suspected Cultists

Published

13 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Editor

The Edo State Police Command on Wednesday said two suspected cultists were arrested in Ohonre community, off Adolor College Road, Benin.

This was disclosed in a statement by the command Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, and made available to newsmen electrically.

Ikoedem said the arrest was possible due to operatives response to a distress report concerning the movement and gathering of some suspected cult members within the community.

The statement reads: “The Edo State Police Command has recorded another operational breakthrough following the swift disruption of a suspected cultists’ gathering in Ohonre Community, off Adolor College Road, Benin City.

“On 21st May, 2026, at about 19:00hrs, operatives attached to Ugbowo Division who were on surveillance patrol responded to a distress report concerning the movement and gathering of some suspected cult members within the community.

“Acting promptly on the information, the police team mobilized to the location. On sighting the operatives, the suspects fled in an attempt to evade arrest. The operatives immediately gave them a hot chase, leading to the arrest of two suspects identified as Victor Peter ‘M’, 21 years and Iyemoma Ogbewe ‘M’, 35 years.

“A search conducted on the suspects led to the recovery of one cut-to-size gun believed to have been in their possession for unlawful purposes.

“Upon investigation, the suspects confessed to being members of the notorious Maphite cult group. Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other fleeing gang members.”

She said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, commended the swift response of the operatives and reiterated the Command’s resolve to deny criminal elements any opportunity within Edo State.

He further urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to the Police, assuring that all reports would receive prompt attention.

Metro

Troops Eliminate Two Terrorists, Foil Pipeline Attack

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

The Nigerian Army says troops have, in the last 24 hours, eliminated two terrorists, rescued four kidnapped victims and foiled pipeline attacks in a series of coordinated military operations across Taraba, Kogi and Rivers.

This is contained in operational updates issued to reporters on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the reports, troops of 93 Battalion deployed at Akate in the Donga Local Government Area of Taraba engaged suspected terrorists in a forested area, killing two of them.

According to the report, items recovered from the scene include an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, magazines, mobile phones and other personal effects.

In Kogi, it said the troops of 21 Battalion, in collaboration with vigilantes, rescued four kidnapped passengers along the Anyigba–Itobe road in Ofu Local Government Area.

It added that the victims were reportedly abandoned by their captors while attempting to cross a seasonal stream due to sustained pressure from advancing troops.

According to the military, efforts are ongoing to rescue other victims still in captivity.

The report said that troops of 12 Brigade successfully repelled an ambush along Kabba–Okene road while withdrawing from an earlier operation, forcing the assailants to flee with gunshot wounds.

“Meanwhile, in Rivers, troops of 5 Battalion acting on credible intelligence, foiled an attempt by suspected vandals to detonate a crude oil pipeline in Ahoada West Local Government Area.

“The swift response of the troops disrupted the operation before it could be executed, with the suspects fleeing the scene,” it said.

Metro

Police Arrest Private Chef Over Alleged N150m Theft, Drugging Of Employer, Burglary

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a chef, John Cosmos Govi, over his alleged involvement in a burglary operation at a residence in Abuja, where luxury items and valuables worth about N150 million were reportedly stolen.

The arrest was announced on Monday, May 25, 2026, by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, who said the suspect was apprehended by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) after investigations into allegations of criminal conspiracy, housebreaking, theft, malicious damage and administering harmful substances.

According to police findings, Govi, who allegedly gained employment as a chef at the residence, was said to have studied the movement of occupants, internal routine and security setup before allegedly carrying out the operation on April 23, 2026.

Investigators said he reportedly worked with two accomplices identified as Peter and Moses, who are currently on the run.

Police alleged that food prepared in the house was laced with a suspected sedative substance to weaken the occupants and security personnel.

After they reportedly became unconscious, the suspects allegedly broke into the property, damaged CCTV installations and stole 20 luxury wristwatches valued at about N150 million, alongside other valuables.

Speaking on the development, DCP Anthony Placid said the suspect was intercepted around the Gwagwalada axis of the Federal Capital Territory while attempting to flee to Lagos. He added that an iPhone 17 Pro Max, believed to belong to the victim, and a suspected chemical substance were recovered.

“We remain committed to dismantling organised criminal networks and ensuring that all fleeing accomplices are brought to justice,” Placid said.

Police said efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects and conclude investigations into the case.