₦airaland Forum

Six years after Pelumi Onifade vanished while covering the EndSARS protests, a DNA result has confirmed that an unidentified body recovered in the aftermath of the unrest belongs to the missing journalist. The Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre presented the result to the Coroner Court, and Pelumi's mother, Mrs. Adebose Onifade, broke down in tears as investigating Magistrate Temitope Oladele confirmed the match between the body and a reference sample she had submitted.

The breakthrough comes after years of legal pressure from the Onifade family and Media Rights Agenda (MRA), who filed a wrongful-death suit against the Nigeria Police and the Lagos State Government. A Federal High Court judgment by Justice Ayokunle Olayinka Faji on July 19, 2024 had directed the state Attorney-General to investigate Pelumi's death and order a coroner's inquest to establish what happened to him and who was responsible.

The case gained fresh momentum on May 22, 2026, when MRA lawyer Alimi Adamu pushed the coroner to order the Chief Medical Examiner at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) to release the autopsy report on a body tagged No. 1385 within 21 days. That order traced back to a LASUTH report from March 24, 2026, which disclosed that autopsies had been carried out on six bodies brought to the hospital on November 3, 2020, with DNA samples from those bodies and from grieving families forwarded to the forensic centre for matching.

When the matter resumed in court on June 23, 2026, both of Pelumi's parents were present. Lawyers for MRA and the family told the court that the earlier orders had been served on LASUTH and asked for direction on next steps. Magistrate Oladele said she had received no formal response from the hospital but disclosed she was already holding a sealed document from the DNA and Forensic Centre confirming the match.

Oladele acknowledged that LASUTH was under pressure, admitting the hospital was overwhelmed, but maintained that the autopsy should have been concluded by now. Adamu pushed back, telling the court that the family had waited too long for closure and that the repeated need for follow-up orders pointed to non-compliance with the court's earlier directives. He also flagged the police's continued denial of ever holding Pelumi in custody, even as public and media scrutiny over his disappearance and death during the October 24, 2020 EndSARS protests has only grown.

The coroner warned that she could resort to coercive measures if LASUTH continued to stall but said she preferred to exhaust administrative channels first. She ordered one final reminder to be sent to the hospital and instructed MRA's lawyers to visit LASUTH in person to push for compliance, warning that failure to act would force the court to deploy its full powers to compel the release of the autopsy report. The case has been adjourned to July 7, 2026.

SOurce:

https://applesbite.com/dna-test-confirms-missing-journalist-pelumi-onifade-died-during-endsars-protests/

The country that perpetuate so much injustice against its own citizens. So sad! Rest on sir.

Tinubu boys handiworku.

But helinues and his co data boys said that no one died then

Racoon:
The country that perpetuate so much injustice against its own citizens. So sad! Rest on sir.

if the mods put this on frontpage then nairaland deserve to b sued

This guy's case have been buried on Twitter n this is fake news, the guy was obviously seen with Mr macaroni after endsars n the pictures are everywhere but u people decide to hold on to propaganda so as to paint d government bad.

Wait let me go to twitter n bring d details

Nigeria have happened to him, I islamic terrorists and islamic bandits seems to be enjoying Nigeria now

We know people were recklessly pkaid during the protest.... It's a pity.

BATified2023:
if the mods put this on frontpage then nairaland deserve to b sued

This guy's case have been buried on Twitter n this is fake news, the guy was obviously seen with Mr macaroni after endsars n the pictures are everywhere but u people decide to hold on to propaganda so as to paint d government bad.

Wait let me go to twitter n bring d details

It is on front page.

Propaganda in 3, 2, 1, GO!

This current government has so much blood in its hands.

BATified2023:
if the mods put this on frontpage then nairaland deserve to b sued

This guy's case have been buried on Twitter n this is fake news, the guy was obviously seen with Mr macaroni after endsars n the pictures are everywhere but u people decide to hold on to propaganda so as to paint d government bad.

Wait let me go to twitter n bring d details

One day you'll experience what this guy experienced and may you never have pple that'll fight for you when that day comes.

The ASO Villa bandit is yet to explain to us

Nigeria has gotten far worse to the point where bandits are now called vigilante.

The same government spent billions trying to cover up ongoing genocide against Christians

Yet a person born of a woman was celebrating selling her vote for N15,000. A person whose people are languishing in in captivity in Oyo forests

Elusive001:
But helinues and his co data boys said that no one died then

Quote living things and stop quoting robots programmed to serve tulumbu and Apc

This country matter ehn, e big pass Zuma rock.

Make the world just end jaree

Elusive001:
But helinues and his co data boys said that no one died then

What of the people that Nnamdi Kanu ordered u & his followers to unlife?

We will never never forget what they did to us.

I can't imagine we still even dey vote for them.

Not me,.. Never again.

R.I.P Pelumi.
May the angels protect your soul.

Zuma dey beh

Olamideayomide:
This country matter ehn, e big pass Zuma rock.

Make the world just end jaree

Kilimanjaro dey play sef.

floss:
Quote living things and stop quoting robots programmed to serve tulumbu and Apc

President Tinubu as the vice president during your endsars riots should have done more.

BATified2023:
if the mods put this on frontpage then nairaland deserve to b sued

This guy's case have been buried on Twitter n this is fake news, the guy was obviously seen with Mr macaroni after endsars n the pictures are everywhere but u people decide to hold on to propaganda so as to paint d government bad.

Wait let me go to twitter n bring d details

Oya go and sue nairaland.....jezzzz
Why are you people heartless? This is innocent human life taken at his at his prime and you're talking about twitter.
A life has been lost. Show some compassion and empathy. His only offence was being a Nigerian.
May God have mercy on your soul!!!
My God save your soul!!!

Only a fool will think this country is getting better or has even ever been good/better.

What a country. A country that kills her children. I hate APC with all my soul

BATified2023:
if the mods put this on frontpage then nairaland deserve to b sued

This guy's case have been buried on Twitter n this is fake news, the guy was obviously seen with Mr macaroni after endsars n the pictures are everywhere but u people decide to hold on to propaganda so as to paint d government bad.

Wait let me go to twitter n bring d details

please bring make we see

BATified2023:
if the mods put this on frontpage then nairaland deserve to b sued

This guy's case have been buried on Twitter n this is fake news, the guy was obviously seen with Mr macaroni after endsars n the pictures are everywhere but u people decide to hold on to propaganda so as to paint d government bad.

Wait let me go to twitter n bring d details

Ur name says it all
Na dat BAT go kiii u

BATified2023:
if the mods put this on frontpage then nairaland deserve to b sued

This guy's case have been buried on Twitter n this is fake news, the guy was obviously seen with Mr macaroni after endsars n the pictures are everywhere but u people decide to hold on to propaganda so as to paint d government bad.

Wait let me go to twitter n bring d details

Ur name says it all
Na dat BAT go kpai u

BATified2023:
if the mods put this on frontpage then nairaland deserve to b sued

This guy's case have been buried on Twitter n this is fake news, the guy was obviously seen with Mr macaroni after endsars n the pictures are everywhere but u people decide to hold on to propaganda so as to paint d government bad.

Wait let me go to twitter n bring d details

Ur name says it all
Batikpai u

Nairaland mods working for Obi will rush and push this to frontpage to score cheap political points.
Something that's obviously fake news

favor914:
What of the people that Nnamdi Kanu ordered u & his followers to unlife?

Oga stop trying to deflect the topic. Focus on Pelumi level NK. This format is stale look for another trick that sticks.

Elusive001:
But helinues and his co data boys said that no one died then

Mind the kind of people you quote here. Why quote obvious paid data boys who have their tiktok version, the likes of omobatala, abeygovernor and nsima?

And their nairaland version like the ones u mentioned.

What do you people need to even understand? Data boys are paid to do their grubby job. Just the same way an ashana gets paid to do her job. They may not even like it but guess what? They simply have to do it.

So why do some of you here waste valuable energy thinking u can convince those creeters?

If you sure if what you are saying, you do well.
But if you are doing this for the stipends you get fit the Government , May the Almighty have mercy on your soul.
I will wait till you produce conclusive evidence sha

BATified2023:
if the mods put this on frontpage then nairaland deserve to b sued

This guy's case have been buried on Twitter n this is fake news, the guy was obviously seen with Mr macaroni after endsars n the pictures are everywhere but u people decide to hold on to propaganda so as to paint d government bad.

Wait let me go to twitter n bring d details

Some mumu will say if you don't come out to protest that you are a coward.



The brave ones are 6 feet below.