COOUTH Chief Medical Director Joe Akabuike has denied claims of corpse mutilation by hospital morticians.
He described the viral accusations as misinformation, citing injuries from a fatal accident as cause.
The Chief Medical Director of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Dr. Joe Akabuike, has dismissed claims that morticians at the hospital were involved in cutting and selling parts of corpses. He described the allegations as baseless and malicious.
Speaking on the online current affairs program ‘Governance Unplugged’, hosted by Anambra First, Dr. Akabuike reacted to a viral social media video accusing the hospital staff of mutilating a corpse kept in their morgue. He labelled the incident as a product of misinformation and mischief.
Dr. Akabuike questioned the logic behind the claims, stating that there would be no motivation for such acts when the hospital had recently buried over 300 unclaimed corpses in December 2024.
Giving details of the case, he explained that the deceased in question was a victim of a severe road accident. She had suffered head trauma and multiple fractures and was brought to the hospital by a Good Samaritan after being rejected by other healthcare facilities.
Despite efforts to save her, the woman died just two hours after being admitted. Her body was then deposited in the hospital’s mortuary. According to Dr. Akabuike, two months later, her family returned to collect the body. Upon seeing the extent of injuries particularly missing body parts from the initial accident they raised an alarm.
Hospital authorities, including the SERVICOM desk, clarified the situation to the family, who then accepted the explanation and proceeded with the burial. However, weeks after the burial, the family allegedly took the matter public, accusing the morticians of tampering with the corpse. They also involved law enforcement, leading to the arrest of the mortuary staff.
Dr. Akabuike noted that the morticians were later released by the hospital management, while the police continue their investigation. He emphasized that the hospital has zero tolerance for crime and assured the public that anyone found guilty of wrongdoing will face appropriate punishment.
“The hospital will never shield anyone from the consequences of criminal behavior,” he said, reiterating the institution’s commitment to professionalism and ethical standards.
