Court Adjourns as Delta Family's Five-Month Quest for Corpse Continues

The Delta State High Court located in the Isiokolo Judicial Division has postponed the proceedings until April 17, 2025, concerning an incident where the body of 78-year-old Joseph Ighorhiohwunu reportedly vanished without explanation from November 21, 2024.

The body of Ighorhiohwunu was reportedly missing from the Nigerian Navy Hospital morgue in Effurun, within the Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State. The deceased’s offspring, Omokiniovo Ighorhiohwunu and Mr. Duke Ighorhiohwunu, had submitted the remains to the morgue on November 21, 2024.

The lawsuit, identified as a basic human rights case under docket number HCI/FR/32/2024, was presented to the judiciary and submitted personally by Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho—one of the deceased’s offspring—a human rights advocate. He asserted he was representing both the departed individual and the general populace.

During the initial proceedings, the claimant stated that "Joseph Ighorhiohwunu passed away while being treated at Group Christian Medical Centre, Effurun," unbeknownst to him, and he learned about the deceased's passing on November 21, 2024, which was also the date of Joseph's death.

The applicant additionally stated that “there was no diagnosable medical condition verified for the deceased, who was admitted to the Nigerian Navy Hospital in Effurun on November 21, 2024.”

The applicant alleged that multiple individuals within the deceased’s family—including Mr. Michael Igho-Amaka, Mr. Onajite Ighorhiohwunu, Mr. Felix Ighorhiohwunu, Mrs. Ese Ighorhiohwunu, Mr. Duke Ighorhiohwunu, and Mr. Sunday Ighorhiohwunu—colluded to improperly transfer the body away from the Nigerian Navy Hospital Effurun. The accusation further stated these persons purportedly used their family property located at 127 Urhu-Egbe Street, Okpara-Inland, as an unauthorized burial ground.

The applicant asserts that the family has clandestinely organized funeral plans and built a grave site for the departed individual at that spot throughout the duration of this legal proceeding and the police inquiry.

As a result, the applicant requested the court to order all eleven respondents to reveal the location of the deceased individual’s remains, suggesting that the body might have been taken for superstitious or ceremonial reasons.

During the continued proceedings of the case on April 7, 2025, Attorney Andrew Elekeokwuri Esq told the court that the applicant had submitted an additional "revised and more comprehensive affidavit" regarding the purportedly absent remains of the deceased.

In reaction, Barr. A.O. Aderede, representing the 1st to 8th respondents, along with His Eminence Agadaigho, the 11th respondent—who both attended the hearing—objected since they hadn’t received the mentioned legal documents.

Consequently, Trial Judge Hon. Justice O. Aforkeya instructed the court bailiff to deliver the necessary legal documents to each respondent’s attorney who was present in the courtroom.

Regarding the 9th respondent (Chairman of the Ethiope East Local Government Area) and the 10th respondent (the Nigeria Navy Hospital in Effurun), both of whom were absent without representation in court, the judge additionally instructed the bailiff to deliver the court documents along with the notice for the hearing to them.

After considering initial arguments and examining the available evidence, Justice Aforkeya postponed the case until April 17, 2025, for further proceedings.

At the same time, the legal representative for the 11th respondent, His Greatness Agadaigho Esq., submitted a motion on notice along with a counter-affidavit on April 7, 2025. The request was aimed at obtaining permission for the applicant/respondent to seek damages amounting to N5 million from the plaintiff/applicant/respondent, intended as compensation for the 11th respondent.

The motion filed with attention noted that it was backed by a nine-paragraph statement. This document partially asserted, "The 11th Respondent in this case took charge of the medical care for the late Mr. Joseph Ighorhiohwunu from 2018 up to his passing on November 21, 2024."

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