Anambra: Mortuary attendant in court over missing corpse

• The family members of the late woman had sought the assistance of the commissioner to help them seek redress and locate the corpse for proper burial.

The Anambra State Government on Friday announced the arraignment of a mortician before the Magistrates’ Court in Achalla over the missing corpse of a 26-year-old woman.

The announcement was contained in a statement by the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, through her media aide, Chidinma Ikeanyionwu.

According to the statement, the family members of the late woman, identified as Okeke Chinonso, approached the commissioner to help them seek redress and locate the corpse for proper burial.

It noted that the complainants – a sister of the deceased, Mrs Rejoice Odogwu, and the husband of the deceased – had deposited the corpse at the New Centuary Medical Complex Mortuary Isuaniocha on August 4, 2023.

It added that when the owners of the corpse were ready to bury their dead, a different corpse was given to them.

The statement read partly, “Upon inquiry, the owners of the corpse said the mortician insisted that the corpse they were given was the one they brought, which according to them (the family) is not true.

“They alleged that the corpse, which was handed over to them, was that of an older woman, whereas theirs was a 26-year-old female. They also stated that the body deposited had a low cut before and after death.”

“But the body given to them had its hair weaved and that the body given to them has been operated upon whereas theirs never underwent any form of surgery, among other things they said were off about the body handed over to them.

It added, “Mr Sopuruchukwu Okeke notified the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, that was after they refused to take the corpse which the mortician was forcing down their throat. The owner of the mortuary, Uchenna Joseph, started threatening them for refusing to take the embalmed body which according to them isn’t what they deposited in the mortuary. The case was filed and called up at the Magistrates’ Court, Achalla, for hearing.”