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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Edo State Police Command, yesterday, said Mr. Gabriel Chukwu Otu, the operator of the controversial mortuary where 20 embalmed bodies were recently uncovered in Benin City was not certified mortician.
Speaking to journalists yesterday, the officer in charge of the Criminal Investigative Department of the Edo State Police Command, Olawore Oluwole, said said 10 suspects have so far been arrested and interrogated. He said in the course of investigation, there were interfaces with medical personnel, lawyers, members of the public, representatives of the Benin Traditional Council, families of those who deposited bodies as well as pathologists.
He said though some documents were recovered portraying the mortuary site to be an approved location from the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, the principal suspect, Otu, didn’t acquire formal training, but only worked at different mortuaries as a mortician attendant.
“Following investigations by the command’s team and health personnel led by the Commissioner for Health, some documents were recovered portraying it to be an approved location from the ministry of environment and sustainability.
“However, the principal suspect, Gabriel Otu, later reported and made statements, and some other hospitals and mortuaries were equally visited and the following facts emerged.
“The building utilised by him (Otu) was not certified nor approved by the ministry of health or environment. Other facts revealed are that the mortuary is not a layout for a trado-medical institution. Besides, 23 embalmed bodies, as well as a dismembered mummified body without a skull were found, and it depicts an unlawful possession and violates section 329 of the criminal code.
“There were also sacrilegious effigies found at the scene; some inside, while others were outside. These depict criminal elements in his possession and against section 213 of the criminal code. Some specimens were extracted and have been sent to experts for forensic analysis,” the police officer further stated.
Meanwhile, the Edo State government has given September 9 as the deadline for mortuary operators who are yet to obtain operational licence to get approval from the ministry of health.
The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Obehi Akoria, gave the deadline yesterday, at a press briefing alongside security operatives among others, to give an update on the suspected ritual shrine recently uncovered by the security agencies in Benin City.
The commissioner also urged owners of mortuary homes who have registered to present their proof of registration to the state ministry of health by Friday, September 30.
“The Edo State ministry of health is using this opportunity to reach out to all persons who own or operate mortuaries or embalming homes to come to the ministry of health, directorate of regulation and monitoring with evidence of due registration, if they are duly registered, latest by September 30.
“However, for those who are not duly registered, we are giving till the close of business on September 9, for them to present themselves to the ministry of health, where we will give them the basic requirements for operation of mortuaries or embalming homes in the state,” she said.
