Three mortuary attendants were on Thursday brought before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for cutting off the heart and wrists of a dead woman.
The police have charged the suspects, Micheal Olusegun, 65; Oluseyi Olamade, 41; and Adetunji Aliyu, 45, with two counts of conspiracy and misconduct.
The suspects have pleaded not guilty.
Police Prosecutor ASP Roman Unuigbe told the court that the accused persons committed the offence on November 16 at St. Raphael Divine Mercy Hospital in Ijede, Ikorodu.
Mr Unuigbe said that one Anthony Lawani lodged a complaint to the police that the body of his sister, 51-year-old Mary Ehinlaiye which was deposited at the morgue was missing.
“My Lord, the complainant had gone to the mortuary to collect his sister’s body for burial but the attendants could not present the body to him.
“It was later discovered that they had exchanged the body for another one and the family of the other deceased had buried his sister as their own,” Unuigbe said.
The prosecutor added that “they secretly went to the mortuary and exchange the corpses and tried to return her to her brother without two wrists and a heart.”
The offence, Unuigbe said contravened the provisions of sections 165 (b) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Section 165 (b) provides for five years imprisonment while 411 provides two years for conspiracy.
Chief Magistrate Peter Ojo has adjourned the case until January 30.
