Fresh controversy has emerged in the coroner’s inquest into the death of journalist Pelumi Onifade, as the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital said it could not identify a body believed to be his due to the destruction of DNA samples during the 2020 #EndSARS protests.
However, the claim was quickly challenged by legal representatives of Media Rights Agenda, who described the explanation as inconsistent with established timelines.
At the resumed hearing on April 7, 2026, LASUTH informed the coroner that all DNA samples held at the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre were destroyed when the facility was burnt during the #EndSARS protests in October 2020.
The hospital said this development made it impossible to identify the body tagged 1385, believed to be that of Onifade, who was reportedly shot by police on October 24, 2020 while covering the protests.
Lead counsel to MRA, Alimi Adamu, disputed the claim, pointing to a critical inconsistency.
He argued that official records show the DNA Centre was burnt on October 23, 2020, one day before Onifade’s death making it impossible for DNA samples collected from his family after his death to have been destroyed in that incident.
Adamu further noted that DNA samples from the family were taken days after the incident, and at no point were they informed that the samples had been compromised or required re-collection.
He described LASUTH’s explanation as “untenable both logically and evidentially,” while stating that the inconsistencies warrant clarification to preserve the integrity of the investigative process.
The inquest has faced delays due to LASUTH’s repeated failure to comply with earlier court orders issued by the investigating magistrate, Mrs. Temitope Oladele, directing the hospital to provide a comprehensive report on the unidentified body.
The order, first issued on November 18, 2025, is central to efforts to determine the circumstances surrounding Onifade’s death.
At a previous sitting on March 24, 2026, the coroner declined an application to initiate committal proceedings against the hospital’s Chief Medical Director for alleged disobedience, opting instead to grant a final opportunity for compliance.
During the latest proceedings, the coroner acknowledged receipt of LASUTH’s report but emphasised that the immediate priority is determining the location and status of the body. She noted that the body had reportedly been transferred from LASUTH to another medical facility in the Yaba area of Lagos.
While acknowledging the importance of DNA analysis, the coroner stressed that resolving the question of the body’s whereabouts is fundamental to advancing the inquest.
Following submissions by MRA’s legal team, the court ordered the Chief Medical Director of the Yaba facility to produce a detailed report on the body tagged 1385 within 14 days.
The coroner also said that efforts to locate the body and address DNA-related issues should proceed simultaneously to avoid further delays. The matter was subsequently adjourned to April 28, 2026.
The inquest was instituted following a judgment by the Federal High Court in Lagos, delivered by Ayokunle Olayinka Faji on July 19, 2024. The court directed the Lagos State Attorney-General to ensure a full investigation into the circumstances of Onifade’s death, including identifying and prosecuting those responsible.