DNA Evidence Controversy Deepens in #EndSARS Killing as LASUTH Claims Samples Destroyed in Fire

DNA Evidence Controversy Deepens in #EndSARS Killing as LASUTH Claims Samples Destroyed in Fire

A fresh controversy has emerged in the ongoing investigation into the killing of Nigerian journalist Pelumi Onifade during the 2020 #EndSARS protests, after the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) told a coroner’s court that DNA samples linked to the case were destroyed in a fire during the unrest, a claim now being challenged by legal representatives and raising serious questions about the integrity of the investigation.

At the center of the dispute is the death of Onifade, a reporter with Gboah TV, who was reportedly arrested by police officers on October 24, 2020, while covering unrest in the Agege area of Lagos. According to accounts presented in court, he was taken away despite clearly identifying himself as a journalist, and his body was later discovered in a mortuary in Ikorodu days after his disappearance.

The circumstances surrounding his death have remained unresolved for years, prompting legal action by media advocacy group Media Rights Agenda (MRA), which sought a judicial inquiry into the case. In July 2024, a Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the state government to conduct a coroner’s inquest to determine the cause of death and identify those responsible.

The inquest, which began in 2024, has been marked by repeated delays, largely due to the failure of LASUTH to provide key forensic and medical reports concerning an unidentified body believed to be that of the slain journalist. The body, tagged “1385,” was reportedly received by the hospital in November 2020 following its transfer from Ikorodu General Hospital. 

In its latest submission to the coroner’s court in April 2026, LASUTH stated that it was unable to identify the body through DNA analysis because all samples stored at the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre had been destroyed when the facility was burnt during the #EndSARS protests in October 2020. 

This explanation, however, has been strongly disputed by lawyers representing the Onifade family and MRA. Lead counsel Alimi Adamu argued in court that the timeline provided by LASUTH contains a fundamental inconsistency. According to official records, the DNA centre was burnt on October 23, 2020, one day before Onifade was detained and subsequently killed on October 24. 

Adamu further noted that DNA samples from the journalist’s parents were collected several days after his death, meaning they could not have been among those destroyed in the fire. He described LASUTH’s claim as “manifestly inconsistent” with established facts and urged the court to seek clarification from all relevant institutions involved in the case. 

The dispute over the DNA evidence has added another layer of complexity to an already protracted investigation. Forensic identification is considered critical in confirming whether the unidentified body is indeed that of Onifade, a step that is essential for establishing accountability and advancing legal proceedings.

Presiding over the inquest, Coroner Temitope Oladele acknowledged the importance of the DNA issue but indicated that the immediate priority is to establish the location and custody of the body. According to information presented in court, the body may have been transferred from LASUTH to another medical facility in the Yaba area of Lagos, prompting the coroner to order the institution to provide a detailed report within 14 days. 

The court subsequently adjourned proceedings to April 28, 2026, as efforts continue to resolve the discrepancies and determine the next steps in the investigation.

The case has drawn significant attention from human rights advocates and media organizations, who view it as emblematic of broader concerns about accountability and the protection of journalists in Nigeria. Onifade was reportedly documenting events during the nationwide #EndSARS protests, a movement that erupted in October 2020 against police brutality, particularly the actions of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The protests were marked by widespread demonstrations across major cities, including Lagos, and were accompanied by incidents of violence, arrests, and allegations of excessive use of force by security agencies. Several cases of deaths and disappearances linked to the protests have since remained unresolved, fueling ongoing demands for justice and institutional reform.

Stone Reporters note that the controversy surrounding the alleged destruction of DNA samples highlights systemic challenges in Nigeria’s forensic and investigative infrastructure. The reliance on a single facility for DNA analysis, combined with the lack of redundancy and secure data preservation systems, has exposed vulnerabilities that can significantly hinder criminal investigations and judicial processes.

The dispute also raises questions about record-keeping, transparency, and communication among institutions involved in sensitive cases. The fact that DNA samples were reportedly collected after the fire, yet are now claimed to have been destroyed in that same incident, has intensified scrutiny of official explanations and increased pressure on authorities to provide a coherent account.

Legal experts argue that resolving the inconsistencies is crucial not only for the Onifade case but also for public confidence in the justice system. Without clear and verifiable evidence, efforts to establish responsibility for the journalist’s death may be severely undermined.

For the family of Pelumi Onifade, the prolonged uncertainty has been particularly difficult. More than five years after his death, key questions remain unanswered, including the precise circumstances of his arrest, the cause of death, and the identity of those responsible.

As the inquest continues, the outcome may set an important precedent for how cases involving alleged abuses during the #EndSARS protests are handled. It also underscores the enduring impact of the protests on Nigeria’s legal and institutional landscape, as well as the ongoing struggle to achieve accountability and justice.

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