On friday, a Delta State High Court sitting in Warri ordered an autopsy or corona inquest be conducted on the remains of the former Delta State gubernatorial candidate of the Citizens Popular Party (CPP), late Chief Ogbe Onokpite, who was shot dead by the police, November, 2011.
Justice C.E. Achenefu ruled on an application by the counsel to the Onokpite family, John Edmund Odohisi, who wanted the relief among others in order to reveal the cause of the death of Chief Onokpite.
Justice Achenefu stated, ““the application succeeds partially”, as the court could not adjudicate on the issues of fundamental human rights and issues canvassed by the family and police if the cause of death was not determined.”
Mr. Odohisi stated, “the order is a right step in the right direction. We will heed the court’s order. The result of the autopsy is the basis of our case. The police cannot deprive us from having the corpse to perform autopsy, we will take enrolment of the order to them. In fact, they will even be there when the autopsy is being performed. It is after the autopsy that the family will then take the next step, this is why we came to the court in the first instance, it is the basis of our agitation, we want to know if it were multiple bullets that killed him, whether he was shot on the leg, arm, head, etc” What are you thinking?