Court Orders Service of Processes on Respondents in Corpse Disappearance in Delta State
The Delta State High Court sitting in the Isiokolo Judicial Division has ordered the service of court processes on all respondents in an ongoing fundamental rights suit concerning the mysterious disappearance of the corpse of a 78-year-old man, Joseph Ighorhiohwunu.
At the resumed hearing on April 7, 2025, Justice O. Aforkeya directed the court Bailiff to serve legal documents on the counsel for the 1st to 8th respondents and the 11th respondent, His Greatness Agadaigho, who were present in court.
The judge further ordered that the 9th and 10th respondents, namely the Chairman of Ethiope East Local Government Area and the Nigerian Navy Hospital, Effurun, who were absent and unrepresented, also be served the court processes alongside hearing notices.
The order followed objections raised by the defence counsel that they had not received the applicant’s “further and better affidavit” filed in relation to the disappearance of the corpse.
The case, filed under Suit No. HCI/FR/32/2024, was initiated by human rights activist Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho, who is also one of the deceased’s children.
He filed the suit in person, claiming to be acting on behalf of the late Joseph Ighorhiohwunu and in the public interest.
In his originating application, Aghogho alleges that his father died on November 21, 2024, while receiving treatment at Group Christian Medical Centre, Effurun, and that he was only informed of the death on the same day.
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He contends that the deceased was not diagnosed with a verifiable medical condition and that his corpse was subsequently deposited at the Nigerian Navy Hospital, Effurun.
However, the applicant accuses several family members—Michael Igho-Amaka, Onajite Ighorhiohwunu, Felix Ighorhiohwunu, Ese Ighorhiohwunu, Duke Ighorhiohwunu, and Sunday Ighorhiohwunu—of unlawfully removing the body from the hospital.
He further alleges that they secretly constructed a tomb and made burial arrangements at the family residence located at No.127 Urhu-Egbe Street, Okpara-Inland, despite an active police investigation and pending court proceedings.
The applicant is urging the court to compel all eleven respondents to disclose the whereabouts of the missing corpse, expressing fears that it may have been diverted for spiritual or ritual purposes.
Meanwhile, counsel for the 11th respondent, His Greatness Agadaigho, has filed a motion on notice and a counter affidavit seeking an order to claim N5 million in damages against the applicant.
The motion, supported by a 9-paragraph affidavit, asserts that Agadaigho provided professional medical care to the late Joseph Ighorhiohwunu from 2018 until his death in 2024.
Following the service directives and preliminary arguments, the court adjourned the matter to April 17, 2025, for continuation of hearing.
