In a decisive move that could finally unlock long-sought answers in one of the most haunting tragedies of the #EndSARS protests, a Lagos State District Coroner, Mrs. Temitope Oladele, has given the Medical Director of Ikorodu General Hospital just seven days to hand over crucial hospital records regarding the death of 20-year-old journalist, Pelumi Onifade.
Onifade, a young reporter with Gboah TV, died in police custody during the nationwide #EndSARS protests in October 2020. His lifeless body was later discovered at the mortuary of Ikorodu General Hospital under circumstances that have sparked outrage and demands for accountability.
The coroner’s order, issued on Friday, August 8, 2025, follows an application by Media Rights Agenda’s (MRA) legal counsel, Mr. Monday Arunsi, led by Ms. Jennifer Wala of Charles Musa & Co. The lawyers told the court that despite repeated requests, the hospital’s Medical Director had refused to release the records—claiming “patient confidentiality” as the reason.
The inquest, which stems from a Federal High Court ruling, is part of a wrongful death suit filed by MRA against the Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos State Government. In a landmark judgment on July 19, 2024, Justice Ayokunle Olayinka Faji ordered the Attorney-General to ensure a full-scale investigation, convene a coroner’s inquest, determine the cause of death, and prosecute those found responsible.
hearing, Mr. Arunsi revealed that, acting on the coroner’s earlier directive, he and Mr. Johnson Agbakaba of Charles Musa & Co. visited Ikorodu General Hospital on July 31, 2025, seeking records that would show when Onifade’s remains were brought in, when they were released, or their current status.
However, the Medical Director reportedly stonewalled their efforts, insisting the information was “confidential medical data” and could only be disclosed under a direct court order.
With the memory of October 2020’s brutal clampdown on protesters still etched in the nation’s conscience, the coroner wasted no time granting the oral application. She ordered that the hospital’s Medical Director—or any custodian of the relevant records—must release them to MRA’s lawyers within seven days of receiving her ruling.
The case, which has become a litmus test for press freedom, human rights, and police accountability in Nigeria, is set to continue on August 19, 2025. Many see this as a crucial step toward breaking the silence that has shrouded Onifade’s death for nearly five years.
For the Onifade family, human rights advocates, and fellow journalists, the coroner’s order is not just a procedural step—it’s a spark of hope that the truth, long buried under bureaucratic excuses, may finally be unearthed.
PIONEER NEWS 