Bimbo Ogbona

The Lagos State Government has ordered a coroner’s inquest to ascertain the cause of  death in the case of the late Bimbo Ogbonna who allegedly died recently as a result of severe fire injuries. The Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN ) gave the directive recently noting that thorough investigation will be carried out to ascertain the cause if death. “A Coroner’s Inquest has immediately been requested , in line with section 14 and 15 of the Coroners’ Systems Law, Laws of Lagos State 2015, to determine the cause and circumstances of death. By Section 14(1)(d) of the Coroners’ System Law of the State: “A report of death shall be made to any of the agencies for the report of death or the office of the Coroner and be subject to post-mortem examination where there is reasonable cause to believe that the cause of death was: violent, unnatural or suspicious.” Section 15(1) and (9) further enjoins the Coroner to hold an inquest whenever he or she is informed that the death of the deceased person was in a violent, unnatural or suspicious situation or believes an inquest is desirable following the report of a reportable death. The commissioner noted that as a government, the security and wellbeing of citizens are of utmost importance while assuring the public that everything will be done to ensure that the cause of death is known.  “The findings of this investigation will be made public in due course and appropriate sanctions meted out to anyone found culpable”. The Attorney General also charged the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) to assist the Police and other law enforcement agencies  in investigating the case and ascertaining the cause of death of the late Bimbo Ogbonna which which had attracted wide media attention. The Executive Secretary, Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), Mrs. Titilola Vivour Adeniyi also reiterated the State government’s resolve to ensure perpetrators of Sexual and Gender Based Violence crimes are brought to face the full wrath of the law and urged residents  to report cases of domestic and Sexual Violence cases to the DSVA office in Alausa Ikeja or call the toll free number 08000333333 (24/7).