From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
A lawyer, Joseph Offor, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), seeking a supplementary investigation into the alleged disappearance of an engineer’s corpse from a hospital mortuary in Anambra State over what he described as omissions and inconsistencies in an earlier police report.
Offor, counsel to Osita Okammelu, made the request in a letter dated July 6 and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday.
The corpse of his client’s brother, Chukwunweike Okammelu, allegedly disappeared from the mortuary of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka, early this year.
The family subsequently reported the incident to the police and accused the hospital management of handling the matter unprofessionally. It also alleged that the management relied on what it described as “spurious narratives and falsehoods credited to the mortician, Mr Clement Ogbonna.”
In the petition, which was copied to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, Offor said the matter had earlier been referred to the IGP, who assigned it to the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) for investigation.
He said his client identified material omissions, inconsistencies and investigative gaps after reviewing the team’s report, arguing that the shortcomings affected the completeness, fairness and credibility of its findings.
The lawyer questioned the recommendation to prosecute only the mortician, despite what he said was the report’s acknowledgement of possible criminal conspiracy and systemic failures.
He also faulted the recommendation for immediate prosecution, arguing that significant aspects of the investigation remained outstanding, according to the report.
Offor maintained that although the report identified serious administrative and operational negligence, it failed to adequately examine the roles of all persons who might bear criminal responsibility.
“The report relied on financial records, call data records and other documentary exhibits without making comprehensive findings therefrom.
“Critical issues relating to chain of custody of the deceased’s corpse, roles of other listed suspects, institutional responsibility and circumstances surrounding unlawful release and disappearance of the corpse remained unresolved.
“Our client has accordingly prepared a detailed analysis identifying these gaps and respectfully demonstrating why he believes the investigation requires further review,” he said.
Offor urged the IGP to order a supplementary investigation, with particular attention to the issues raised in a memorandum enclosed with the petition.
“Our client firmly believes that a thorough and comprehensive investigation will ensure that truth is fully uncovered and that justice is done to all parties without fear or favour,” he stated.
