Lagos Widow Laments Non-Release Of Husband’s Corpse

Tolulope Okeowo, a Nigerian woman who is the widow of the late Olalekan who was stabbed to death in an uncompleted building at Salvation Estate, the Ajah area of Lagos State, has cried out for help.

She has lamented over the delay in retrieving the corpse of her husband from the mortuary.

PUNCH Metro reported that the deceased, who engaged in menial jobs, returned home penultimate Saturday, had his meal and went to bed.

While he was asleep, a yet-to-be-identified assailant made his way into the building at midnight and stabbed him to death.

He was rushed to the hospital where he eventually died while his remains were deposited in the mortuary.

Tolulope, who is currently nursing a set of twins, however, alleged that the police had since frustrated her efforts to obtain the report needed to retrieve the corpse for burial.

The widow said, “When my husband died, I was told to report the case at the station to avoid being implicated. I reported at Langbasa Police Station and I also informed them that I was not taking any legal action because I don’t have the money for that. What I am concerned about is how to take care of the seven children my husband left behind.

“When I went back to obtain a police report on Tuesday, they told us that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department and that was where we could get the document.

“We went to the State CID that same day and we were told to go back to Langbasa to get it because the incident happened within their jurisdiction. When we got back to Langbasa, the officers recommended a lawyer to help us do an affidavit.

“When we took the affidavit to the SCID at Panti on Tuesday, the officers asked us to get a lawyer to write an application and attach it to the affidavit which we did.”

Tolulope said despite meeting the requirements, the officers did not provide the police report.

She said the officers asked her to go home and that they would get back to her.

She lamented, “I waited for the call of the officer today (Wednesday) but he did not call. So, I had to call and I was told that they would get back to me. He later called in the evening and said there were issues on the matter.

“I don’t know why I am being deprived of the police report. The cost of the mortuary is accumulating. The corpse of my husband had swollen up on the day we went to check in the mortuary. They also told us that they would pour chemicals on it after a week. It was later when the police went to take his picture that they started to preserve it.”

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said, “The woman should be advised to go and meet the head of that particular unit doing the investigation. I have confirmed from the head of the unit that she is entitled to get the report and nothing can stop her from getting it.”