Temitope Oladele, the investigating magistrate overseeing the coroner’s inquiry established to determine the actual cause of the death of Pelumi Onifade, a Gboah TV journalist, has disclosed that she received a sealed report confirming that an unidentified human body deposited at the mortuary of Ikorodu General Hospital was that of the reporter.

Ms Oladele said a DNA test result presented by the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre established a match between the unidentified body and the DNA sample provided by Adebose Onifade, the mother of the late journalist.

The magistrate, who disclosed that she had not received any response from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) following an order directing it to present an autopsy report, stated that she had received a document from the DNA centre, adding that she believed the autopsy had been completed.

Responding to Alimi Adamu, lead counsel to Media Rights Agenda (MRA), who reportedly suggested that the court issue another order directing LASUTH to present the report, the coroner noted that administrative options should be exhausted before coercive measures are taken.

Ms Oladele directed that a final administrative reminder be sent to the teaching hospital, urging it to promptly produce the autopsy report concerning the journalist’s death.

The coroner also called on MRA’s legal representatives to visit the teaching hospital to ensure compliance, while warning that the court would not hesitate to invoke its powers to enforce obedience to her previous order for the production of the autopsy report.

The case was adjourned until July 7, 2026.

Mr Onifade’s death followed his coverage of a mob attack in the Agege area of Lagos State on October 24, 2020, during the #EndSARS protest.

The TV journalist was reportedly taken away by police personnel attached to the Lagos Task Force despite wearing a press jacket.

The management of the TV platform reportedly discovered the journalist’s lifeless body at a mortuary in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

On July 19, 2024, the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, Lagos directed the state government to open a coroner’s inquest to identify the factors responsible for Mr Onifade’s death and prosecute those responsible for the incident.

The coroner directed LASUTH to conduct a post-mortem examination on a suspected unidentified body tagged 1385 on November 28, 2025.

The coroner’s court also issued an ultimatum to the Chief Medical Director of LASUTH to provide the autopsy result of the body believed to be that of Mr Onifade.

Ms Oladele further gave the Director of the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre a three-week ultimatum to submit the results of tests conducted on the unidentified body.

In March 2026, the court similarly issued a two-week deadline after the hospital failed to comply with the earlier order.

In April 2026, the teaching hospital stated that the body of the late journalist could not be identified, explaining that all DNA samples at the state’s DNA and Forensic Centre had been destroyed by fire during the #EndSARS protests in October 2020.

On April 11, Media Rights Agenda (MRA), a press freedom advocacy group, rejected a report presented by LASUTH, which claimed that it was unable to identify the body of the 20-year-old TV journalist.