According to the family, officials allegedly attempted to bury Joseph Ighorhiohwunu on October 25, 2025, at Urhu-Egbe Street in Okpara Inland, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.
The family of the late Joseph Ighorhiohwunu has accused officials of the Nigerian Navy Hospital, Effurun, and the Delta State Police Command of planning to secretly bury his remains despite pending proceedings before the ECOWAS Court of Justice, alleging that such a move would amount to interference with an ongoing judicial process.
The allegation is contained in court documents and a formal legal notification sent to the Nigeria Police Force Complaint Response Unit by the family’s lawyers, warning security agencies against taking any step capable of frustrating the regional court’s proceedings.
The dispute centres on Suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/38/25, filed before the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) by Emmanuel Erhioyovwe Ighorhiohwunu and Comrade Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho against the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The applicants are asking the regional court to preserve the remains of the deceased, restrain any burial pending the determination of the suit and order the preservation of evidence connected to the circumstances surrounding his death.
