Delta court adjourns hearing on mysterious disappearance of Joseph Ighorhiohwunu’s corpse, with accusations of ritualistic motives and family involvement

[dropcap]A[/dropcap] Delta State High Court sitting in the Isiokolo Judicial Division has adjourned hearing until April 17, 2025, in a case surrounding the mysterious disappearance of the corpse of 78-year-old Joseph Ighorhiohwunu.

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The case, filed as a fundamental human rights application (Suit No. HCI/FR/32/2024), was brought before the court by the deceased’s child, Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho, a human rights activist.

Aghogho is acting on behalf of the deceased and in the public interest, demanding an investigation into the mysterious removal of the corpse from the Nigerian Navy Hospital, Effurun, in November 2024.

In the originating application, Aghogho claimed that he was unaware of his father’s death until November 21, 2024, when he was informed that Joseph Ighorhiohwunu had died while receiving treatment at the hospital.

He further stated that the deceased was not diagnosed with any verifiable medical condition before his death, and that the body was allegedly removed from the hospital under suspicious circumstances.

The applicant accused several family members of conspiring to unlawfully remove the corpse from the hospital and secretly bury it at the family compound at No.127 Urhu-Egbe Street, Okpara-Inland.

He suspects that the body may have been diverted for spiritual or ritualistic purposes.

At the resumed hearing on April 7, 2025, the applicant’s lawyer, Andrew Elekeokwuri, submitted a “further and better affidavit” regarding the missing corpse.

However, the defence counsel for the 1st to 8th respondents, A.O. Aderere, along with the 11th respondent’s representative, His Greatness Agadaigho, raised objections, stating they had not been served with the new documents.

Justice O. Aforkeya, the trial judge, directed the court Bailiff to serve all necessary documents on the respective respondents’ counsels present in court.

The judge also ordered that the 9th and 10th respondents the Chairman of Ethiope East Local Government Area and Nigeria Navy Hospital, Effurun be served with the documents as they were neither present nor represented.

During the proceedings, Agadaigho, the counsel for the 11th respondent, filed a motion requesting an order granting leave to the applicant to claim damages of N5 million, claiming to have professionally managed the health of the deceased from 2018 until his death.

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Justice Aforkeya subsequently adjourned the hearing to April 17, 2025, for the continuation of the case, which has raised significant concerns over the disappearance of the deceased’s body and potential criminal actions.