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

Gunmen Kidnap Businessman In Ibadan

Published

1 day ago

May 4, 2026

Editor

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a 60-year-old man in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The victim was kidnapped on Saturday while on his way to his residence.

The incident occurred at Jinarere, Alakia in Ibadan.

Public Relations Officer of the State Police command, Olayinka Ayanlade, when contacted, confirmed the incident.

Ayanlade in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Sunday, explained that efforts are ongoing to rescue the victim.

Ayanlade said, “Preliminary information reveals that the victim, a 60-year-old male and building materials trader, was accosted while returning home along the Jinarere axis of Alakia Road by four masked armed men, who forcefully whisked him away in an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla vehicle”.

Metro

Tragedy As Suspected Kidnappers Kill Young Entrepreneur In Edo

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

A 30-year-old entrepreneur and CEO of Principle Takeout, Justice Abu Oshioke, has been killed by suspected kidnappers in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

He was reportedly attacked by the suspected kidnappers on Saturday while on his way to pick up an order made for his child’s dedication on Sunday morning.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers attempted to force him into a nearby bush in a kidnapping attempt. However, he reportedly resisted and tried to escape.

In the course of the struggle, the assailants opened fire, shooting him multiple times.

Concerned residents quickly rushed him to a nearby medical facility, but he was confirmed dead on arrival.

The deceased was said to have recently gotten married and welcomed a baby boy.

The tragic event has turned a joyous occasion into a moment of grief for the family.

The shocking development has left the Ekpoma community in deep sorrow, with many residents expressing outrage over the growing insecurity in the area.

Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem confirmed the incident and said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika has ordered a “full-scale investigation and intensified manhunt for those responsible.”

According to her, the Police, in collaboration with the military, local vigilantes, and hunters, are actively pursuing the perpetrators through coordinated operations.

Metro

Grandfathers Arrested For Drug Trafficking

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

Two grandfathers, aged 83 and 78, are among several suspects apprehended by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in a fresh nationwide crackdown on illicit drug trafficking.

Pa John Ofiel, 83, was arrested on Tuesday, 28 April during a raid in the Aba region of Abia State.

The NDLEA said that operatives acting on credible intelligence recovered 700 grams of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis already packaged into retail sachets.

The octogenarian, who claimed to be a professional shoemaker allegedly confessed to delving into the illicit trade.

In Ekiti State on Thursday 30 April 78 year old Ogunjobi Samuel was detained at his residence in Ilupeju-Ekiti where officers seized 350 grams of cannabis from him, identifying him as a local peddler.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, (CCEO), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), commended the various state commands for their drug supply reduction efforts.

He urged officers to maintain the current momentum, balancing enforcement with the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities.
The enforcement drive also led to the arrest of a notorious drug dealer in Oyo State Taofik Adeyemi, 49.

He was apprehended on Saturday, 2 May, at his residence in Ibadan after months of evading the authorities.

He was caught alongside his salesman, Mustapha Oyerinde, with 3.085kg of cannabis and a getaway vehicle.

Across other states, the NDLEA recorded significant seizures including over 140,000 pills and capsules of Tramadol intercepted in separate operations targeting transit routes from Damaturu to Hadejia.

A raid on Awolowo Market in Mushin area of Lagos state resulted in the recovery of 740kg of cannabis while in Kaduna, two suspects were caught on the Abuja-Jos highway with 290kg of compressed cannabis concealed in a Honda Ridgeline.

A 65-year-old driver was intercepted at the Ile-Ife toll gate in Osun state conveying skunk and methamphetamine, leading to a follow up arrest of the consignment’s owner in Ilesha.

In line with it’s mandate, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy, holding enlightenment lectures for students, Islamic schools, and commercial motorcyclists in Niger, Kano, Anambra, and Lagos states.

The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, noted that the agency remains committed to “cleansing the streets” of both notorious distributors and those who use age as a shield for criminal activity.