Police Recover Body of Doctor Who Jumped Into Lagos Lagoon

The body of Allwell Orji, the medical doctor who jumped into the lagoon on Sunday afternoon, has been recovered, Channels Television is reporting.
The station quoted Fatai Owoseni, commissioner of police in Lagos, as saying the body was recovered by the Marine Police at the Onikan end of the lagoon.
Kehinde Adebayo, spokesman of the Lagos State Management Emergency Agency (LASEMA), told TheCable on Tuesday afternoon that officials of the agency were yet to confirm if the body recovered was that of Orji.
“We have sent for the family, they have to confirm the body before we issue a statement,” he said

A mother’s hoped dashed

During Mrs Orji’s conversation with sympathisers, she expressed optimism that her son would return home alive.

According to her, “I am hopeful that my son will be rescued by the emergency officials and not the recovery of his body.”

She also stated that his son was not married but that marriage plans were on before the tragedy.

Those allowed into the two-storey building on 3, Odunnuku Street, were members of the Deeper Life Church, where the distraught mother worships. Neighbours also visited to console her.

Driver detained

Meanwhile, the driver of the deceased has been detained by the police.

Worried by the continued detention of the driver, Mrs Orji urged Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, to release him, expressing fear that he could be tortured during investigation.

In a swift response to his detention, police sources hinted that he was only put behind the counter and not inside the cell.

Police sources also stated emphatically that the era of torture was over, especially with the present administration at the command.

Police also debunked claims of a suicide note purportedly written by the deceased, as well as report that late Orji received a call before he embarked on the suicide mission.

Police sources at Adeniji Adele hinted that the driver maintained that his boss told him to park for him to urinate.

According to the source, “the driver stated that he never had any idea of what would happen. He said he obeyed his boss by stopping the car as directed but that to his dismay, his boss jumped into the lagoon before he could reach out to him.”

When contacted, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Olarinde Famous-Cole, clarified that the driver was only taken in for questioning and not arrested. “It is normal as investigation is ongoing,” Famous-Cole added.