Ogun shut down illegal mortuary, orders evacuation of corpses

Ogun State Government has sealed off an illegal morgue facility at N0 6 Church Street, Orudu Road, Gbogbolowo Bus Stop, in Ifo Local Government Area of the State as its activities posed ‘serious’ health hazard to the community and its environs.

Governorb Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state

Dr. Daisi Odeniyi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, while sealing off the Morgue alongside security operatives said that the step was to deter other members of the public engaging in such act to desist from such illegality and follow due process by registering Private Hospitals, Maternity Homes, Laboratory Centres and other health facilities with the Ministry of Health.

Odeniyi said three corpses were evacuated from the morgue, adding that the structure housing the corpses did not have building plan approval and would be served demolition notice by the relevant Government Agency.

The Permanent Secretary, represented by Dr. Solomon Sokunbi said the three bodies recovered from the morgue would be deposited to the State owned Mortuary facility, explaining that the corpses would be released to families after proper identification and documentation.

According to him, “Ogun State have zero tolerance to quackery and would not condone the operation of any illegal health facility in and around the State, and anyone caught engaging in such illegality would be arrested and prosecuted”.

In an interview, the Area Coordinator of the Community, Mr Funso Williams, confirmed that the morgue had been sealed thrice by the officials of the Ministry of Health, adding that Mr. Martins Ikharo, operator of the facility usually break Government Seal on the facility.

He therefore called on Government to find a lasting solution to the problem, saying that such illegal facility could cause serious health hazard in the community as there are schools, Churches, Hotels and buildings around the morgue.

Also speaking, Senior Pastor, Celestial Church of Christ, Oluwaseyi Parish, Adiyan, Mr. Falola Olabode, said the morgue has negative effect on socio economic activities of the community, emphasising that chemicals used in preserving the dead bodies do affect the health of the people.