At last, Orji’s body recovered, identified

• Forensic analysis, sketching being done to unravel identity of Tuesday’s remains
• Man arraigned after failed suicide attempt

After the longest 72 hours the Orji family has ever experienced, the body of Dr. Allwell Orji, who jumped into the lagoon from Third Mainland Bridge on Sunday, has finally been recovered by the Marine Police yesterday evening.

Orji’s body was identified by some of his family members, including his driver, in the presence of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State command, Mr. Fatai Owoseni.

According to Owoseni, “the body would be handed over to the family while investigation continues.”

On Tuesday, the commissioner had erroneously made a false statement stating that Dr. Orji’s body was found at the Onikan end of the lagoon. However, the statement was retracted after the deceased’s family said the body was not their son.

Yesterday, General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA), Mr. Adesina Tiamiyu, met with family members of the deceased to express condolences on behalf of the Lagos State government and therefore declare the search closed. The body was recovered around 4p.m. yesterday by the Marine Police.

Earlier before the body was found, the Lagos State Police Command said it had retrieved the mobile phone of Dr. Orji. The state police boss yesterday said the police was working with the service providers and using technical platform to investigate whom he called and what he discussed before taking his life.

“I was personally at the scene of the incident and I was there when the vehicle was searched. The rumour that there was a suicide note in the car was wrong. There was no suicide note.”

Owoseni, who described the action of Dr. Orji, who committed suicide as criminal, said the police would investigate the matter to a logical conclusion and would leave no stone unturned to unravel the mystery behind the unfortunate incident.

“An human error occurred on Tuesday because as at the time the body was found under the bridge at Onikan, what went into the minds of the police officers from the Marine department was that he was the one, since there was no reported case of any other person jumping into the lagoon.

“The police concluded that the found body was that of Orji, until the driver came and said it was not Orji. The body and clothes have been discoloured by water. While the search for Orji”s body is on, forensic analysis would be done on the body recovered on Tuesday. We also want to do the sketching of the recovered body and show it to the public so that any person who knows him should come and identified the body.

Hours before Orji’s body was found, Owoseni had expressed the hopes that the search would be concluded yesterday. “We are very hopeful because of the maxim in such case, traditionally and scientifically, that after three days the body will be floating.”

On the detention of Orji’s driver, he said “it is the duty of the police to investigate the case. The public should give us time to conclude. That the driver is in custody is not the issue but to unravel the mystery.”

Meanwhile, a 34-year-old man, Monday Omogiafo, has been arrested and charged before a Lagos court for allegedly jumping inside a well in an attempt to commit suicide in Lagos. The incident happened at Alvis street in Lawanson area of Surulere, Lagos.

It was gathered that Omogiafo, whose other details were unknown, left his Ojuelegba home and sneaked into the house in a neighbouring street where the incident happened and secretly jumped inside the well.

While he was still struggling inside the well, a tenant who came out to fetch water saw him inside and raised the alarm, which attracted other tenants.
The tenants arranged for a ladder and brought him out alive.

He was then rushed to a hospital where he was treated and revived, while the matter was reported to the police who arrested him and then charged him to court.

He was yesterday charged before Isolo Magistrate court with attempt to commit felony by jumping inside a well. When he was arraigned, he pleaded not guilty.