By NewsCritic Reporters
Barely one month after the death of Joseph Urum (Nmaju), a staff of Do Good Farm Abiriba in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State, the Police investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death and the allegation by family members that their son could have been a victim of alleged organ harvesting might have been put to rest on Saturday 29th March, 2025 following the medical examination of the deceased body by Pathologists at the Federal Medical Centre Umuahia.
The death of Joseph Urum, 45, at the Evergreen Hospital and Maternity, Onicha Mbaise on 26th February 2025, after he was taken to Abiriba community hospital on 24th February from his workplace, and was referred to the FMC Umuahia by Dr Joshua Okereke, who diagnosed him of acute abdomen which according to him required surgical emergency generated enough tension in Abiriba community leading the Police to initiate arrests and investigations.
However, after the arrests of the deceased co-workers who assisted to take him to the hospital namely Pastor Ejemole Ukaegbu, Maduka Bassey and Oko Ukaegbu the Police launched its investigations to unravel the circumstances surround his death and the allegation of organ harvesting levelled against the co-workers and the farm where he worked.
The Police investigations reached a height with the autopsy performed on the deceased body by a team of Pathologists at the FMC Umuahia, to determine the actual cause and manner of his death by dissection. The autopsy became critical following the allegations of organ harvesting by the family who also insisted on justice for the deceased Joseph Urum. For instance, the mother of the deceased Mrs Jane Agwu Nmaju told journalists in Umuahia that the family is suspicious of the sudden death of her son.
She claimed that the family doesn’t know the cause of his death, adding that those who were taking him to the hospitals have questions to answer over his death. The allegation almost prompted the youths of Abiriba to seek punishment as they sought to invade the Do Good Farm, where the deceased worked and from where he was rushed to the hospital, in order to burn it down if not for the quick intervention of the traditional ruler of Abiriba Kingdom, the Enachioken Abiriba, HRM Eze Kalu Kalu Ogbu.
The Autopsy Room
On Saturday 29th March, 2025 the FMC Umuahia Autopsy room was filled to capacity. The Chief Pathologist and HOD of the department (names withheld) were on ground with the operatives of the State CID to coordinate the autopsy examination. Between 2:00pm all the parties involved arrived, including the external doctors who were to witness the exercise. The family of the deceased came with their doctor, and the Abiriba community through the Enachioken also sent their doctor. The accused and the Do-Good Farm were also represented and they also came with their doctor. The medical doctor who conducted the surgery to remove over two litres of puss from the deceased abdomen Dr Alexander Ohanyere was also in the room.
Then the second-year medical students of Gregory University Uturu numbering over 20 were equally present at the autopsy room, with a handful of Abia journalists who have been following and investigating the incident. The autopsy which started at about 3:00pm lasted until 6:00pm with the preliminary result indicating that the vital organs of the deceased were intact and in their original position.
According to one of the doctors who spoke on condition of identity protection, “the autopsy showed that the organs were intact, what is remaining is the toxicology and histology analysis. Now we are waiting for their final report which should be expected in 21 days’ time”.
The preliminary outcome of the coroner inquest for one has put to rest the allegation of organ harvesting against the staff of Do Good Farm Abiriba, who are still in the Police custody at the time of this report. It has exonerated them in the main pending the outcome of the final report detailing the circumstances and cause of his death.
At the time of this report sources disclosed that the Abiriba community independent observers have reported to the Enachioken-in-Council and the community in general about the outcome of the preliminary report, with the deceased family thanking the people for their financial support to get the coroner’s autopsy done. The process, the dissection and procedure that were witnessed in the autopsy room is such that the dead, if they could see, would wish to be left alone to rest in peace.
Just as the Enachioken of Abiriba asserted that his concern is to ensure justice for the deceased and justice for the accused and the farm owner, now can justice be said to have been done?
