Anambra Hospital: Family Petitions IGP on Missing Corpse

• The family of engineer Chukwunweike Okammelu petitioned Tunji Disu, the current Inspector-General of Police, after his corpse disappeared from a mortuary in Anambra State.
• The family's lawyer, Joseph Offor, cited "material omissions" in the initial police investigation report.
• The report acknowledged possible criminal conspiracy but recommended prosecuting only one mortician, Mr. Clement Ogbonna.
• The family seeks a supplementary investigation to address unresolved issues like the chain of custody and institutional responsibility.
• Both the Anambra State Police Command and the hospital's CMD confirmed the case is with Abuja police, predating the CMD's tenure.

This case highlights the legal avenues available to citizens in Nigeria when confronted with unsatisfactory investigative outcomes, specifically the right to petition Tunji Disu, the current Inspector-General of Police, for a higher-level review.

The family of engineer Chukwunweike Okammelu has sought the intervention of Tunji Disu, the current Inspector-General of Police, following the disappearance of his remains from the mortuary at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital in Amaku, Awka, Anambra State. The incident, which reportedly took place in January, prompted the family to initially report the matter to local police authorities. However, their dissatisfaction with the hospital management's response to the grave situation led them to escalate their concerns.

This distressing event underscores the critical need for secure protocols within medical facilities responsible for the custody of deceased persons. The family's subsequent actions highlight a deep-seated concern regarding the integrity of the investigation and the accountability of those entrusted with such sensitive duties.

Joseph Offor, legal counsel for the Okammelu family, formally petitioned Tunji Disu, the current Inspector-General of Police, with a copy also dispatched to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja. This petition was a direct response to perceived inadequacies in the initial police investigation into the Chukwunweike Okammelu corpse disappearance. The Inspector-General had previously assigned the Intelligence Response Team to probe the matter, culminating in a formal report.

However, the family's lawyer asserted that this report contained "material omissions, inconsistencies, and gaps" that significantly undermined its overall completeness and credibility. Offor specifically pointed out that while the report acknowledged the possibility of criminal conspiracy and systemic failures within the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital mortuary, it controversially recommended the prosecution of only one individual, mortician Mr. Clement Ogbonna. Furthermore, the petition alleged that the report identified administrative and operational negligence without adequately extending the investigation to all parties who might bear criminal responsibility for the missing body in Nigeria. Critical aspects such as the chain of custody of the corpse, the specific roles of other potential suspects, the hospital's institutional responsibility, and the precise circumstances surrounding the disappearance were, according to the family, left unresolved.

In response to inquiries, the Anambra State Police Command clarified that it is not currently investigating the case, with SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer, stating that all aspects of the matter are being handled by the investigating team in Abuja. This indicates a centralized approach to the ongoing inquiry, moving the focus away from local command involvement.

Meanwhile, Maureen Umeakuewulu, the Chief Medical Director of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, noted that the incident predates her assumption of office on March 13. She confirmed that the case, which occurred in January, has been subject to police investigation and has been transferred between various investigative units. While she believes the police are actively managing the situation and potentially preparing to file charges, she could not definitively confirm if the case had been formally charged to court, citing her inability to provide further details given that the event transpired before her tenure. The family's petition to the IGP, therefore, represents a direct challenge to the thoroughness of the police's concluded investigation, seeking a supplementary review to address the identified Nigeria police investigation omissions.

The family's persistent efforts, channeled through Joseph Offor's petition, underscore a fundamental demand for comprehensive justice and accountability in cases of mortuary negligence in Anambra State. By providing a detailed analysis of the perceived gaps in the initial police findings, the family aims to compel a more rigorous examination of the facts. Their request for a supplementary investigation, guided by an accompanying memorandum, seeks to ensure that the truth is fully uncovered and that justice is impartially served to all involved parties.

This case highlights the legal avenues available to citizens in Nigeria when confronted with unsatisfactory investigative outcomes, specifically the right to petition Tunji Disu, the current Inspector-General of Police, for a higher-level review. It also serves as a stark reminder of the significant legal and reputational risks faced by hospitals and mortuaries regarding the secure custody of deceased persons, emphasizing their potential liability for operational negligence or even criminal conspiracy in such sensitive matters. The outcome of this Anambra hospital missing corpse IGP petition will set a precedent for how such critical cases are handled and reviewed at the highest levels of law enforcement.

This case demonstrates the legal avenues available for challenging police investigations in Nigeria when a family is dissatisfied with findings, specifically highlighting the process of petitioning the Inspector-General of Police for a supplementary review. It also underscores the significant legal and reputational risks for hospitals and mortuaries regarding the secure custody of deceased persons and potential liability for operational negligence or criminal conspiracy.

Source: Original reporting via Punch Newspapers.