Activist lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) on Friday, October 20, told a Lagos Coroner that an independent body of experts should be allowed to conduct the autopsy on the body of Adebola Akin-Bright.
The late Adebola Akin-Bright was a 12-year-old boy whose small intestine went missing following surgery at LASUTH, Ikeja recently.
He said experts from independent bodies such as the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) should be allowed to examine the corpse of the deceased.
He said this has become necessary in order to avoid the likelihood of bias and conflict of interests since the deceased’s death at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.
Adegboruwa made the request as proceedings commenced yesterday into the circumstances surrounding the death of Master Akin-Bright, the boy with the missing intestine who died at LASUTH.
The Coroner Court is presided over by the District Coroner, Magistrate Mrs Bola Folarin-Williams, sitting at Magistrate Court 4, Botanical Gardens, Ebute-Metta.
During proceedings, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa led Mr Aramide Adeogun and Mr Ezekiel Nnadi, for the father of the deceased, Olumuyiwa Akin-Bright, the complainant.
Abiodun Kolawole represented the African Women Lawyers Association while Mr O.A. Akinde, state counsel from the Ministry of Justice represented the Lagos State Government, as an interested party.
When the case was called, Akinde informed the court that necessary tests and examinations had been conducted on the corpse whereby there was a post-mortem report.
He said the office of the Attorney General is aware of letters from solicitors to the father of the deceased seeking to preserve the corpse while the mother seeks the release of the corpse to her for burial.
He said the state is not against any of the requests, as the court may decide.
Adegboruwa informed the Coroner that the complainant would love to call the medical director of Hobitox Medical Centre where the deceased was first admitted and treated, and the doctors that treated the deceased in LASUTH including all policemen involved in the investigation.
He said this was necessary in order to have a proper understanding of what actually happened to the deceased.
At this point, the Coroner informed that she got information that the autopsy report was ready and would soon get to the court.
Consequently, Adegboruwa applied that it be made available to all the parties in the case.
The coroner stated also that it may be necessary for the father and the mother of the deceased to file their respective applications on what to do with the corpse so that the court can rule on it.
Adegboruwa further informed the Coroner court that he became aware yesterday morning that Mr Femi Falana, SAN, is the lead counsel to the mother of the deceased.
He said he would prefer to liaise with Falana so that both father and mother can harmonise their viewpoints.
He said: “But in the interim, it is good to preserve the corpse since the Coroner has already assumed jurisdiction over the matter.”
Counsel representing the state, Akinde, informed the Coroner that the state is ready to cooperate with and assist the parties by making available all witnesses and documents, including all doctors and medical personnel that attended to the deceased at LASUTH.
After listening to all the parties, the Coroner stated that yesterday’s inaugural sitting was for preliminary proceedings to set the course for the inquest.
She asked the parties to meet to harmonize their views and submit the list of the names of witnesses to be called before the next date. She directed that the autopsy report and all necessary documents be made available to counsel to the parties.
The case was adjourned to November 24, 2023, for further proceedings.
