At the Marine Police Division, it was a mixed bag of emotions for the family of the medical doctor, Dr. Allwell Chiawolamoke Orji, when they were invited on Tuesday to identify the body of a young man recovered from the Lagos lagoon by the police.
The unmarried medical doctor, who worked at Mount Sinai Hospital, Papa Ajao, Mushin in Lagos, on Sunday jumped to his death from the Third Mainland Bridge into the lagoon.
Orji had ordered his driver to park his car, a Nissan Sports Utility Vehicle with registration number LND476EE at the bridge, before taking his final plunge.
Orji had ordered his driver to park his car, a Nissan Sports Utility Vehicle with registration number LND476EE at the bridge, before taking his final plunge.
Although the recovered body later turned out not to be that of the medical doctor, it was a mixture of relief and sadness for the family for two reasons.
The family, especially the mother of the 35-year-old doctor, Mrs. Chinyere Orji, had against all odds still held on to the belief that her son was still alive.
The devout Christian, who attends the Deeper Life Bible Church, continues to hold out for a miracle, even as emergency workers had failed to recover the body in two days.
The devout Christian, who attends the Deeper Life Bible Church, continues to hold out for a miracle, even as emergency workers had failed to recover the body in two days.
Typically, when a person drowns in a large body of water, it usually takes two days for the body to resurface.
On the other hand, had the recovered body been that of the doctor, it would have helped the family to get closure sooner and possibly sped up the process of healing.
The body recovered on Tuesday, which was referred to as ‘John Doe’, was brought out of the lagoon after it was found floating around the Marina on Lagos Island.
On the other hand, had the recovered body been that of the doctor, it would have helped the family to get closure sooner and possibly sped up the process of healing.
The body recovered on Tuesday, which was referred to as ‘John Doe’, was brought out of the lagoon after it was found floating around the Marina on Lagos Island.
Upon its discovery, the people drew the attention of the Marine Police led by the officer-in-charge, SP Chinedu Iwuozo, who in turn moved their patrol boats to the area and recovered the body.
The body of the discovered male was dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a neutral coloured T-shirt. It had no shoes on.
The body of the discovered male was dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a neutral coloured T-shirt. It had no shoes on.
Although the water had changed the colour of his skin, it was obvious that he was a young man, even with the bloated, peeling and decomposing body.
Given that the body was recovered by the Marine wing of the Nigerian Police at about 10.30 a.m., the identity of the deceased remained unknown until the family of the doctor came in late in the afternoon to ascertain if it was that of their son.
Given that the body was recovered by the Marine wing of the Nigerian Police at about 10.30 a.m., the identity of the deceased remained unknown until the family of the doctor came in late in the afternoon to ascertain if it was that of their son.
When THISDAY contacted the police, it was gathered that the mother of the doctor, a retired banker, was already heading to the police station alongside other family members to identify the body discovered Tuesday.
But before she got there, five male relatives who were already at the station were shown the body and they confirmed that it was not that of the doctor.
But before she got there, five male relatives who were already at the station were shown the body and they confirmed that it was not that of the doctor.
Meanwhile, fishermen at the sawmill in the Okobaba area, near the scene of the incident where the doctor jumped off the bridge, said they were not aware that anyone had plunged into the water recently.
They however did not rule out the possibility of someone falling overboard, as according to them, they get to see a lot of bodies floating in the lagoon.
They however did not rule out the possibility of someone falling overboard, as according to them, they get to see a lot of bodies floating in the lagoon.
Also speaking on the search for the doctor, the Adeniji Adele Divisional Police Officer, SP Ayodele Umujose, said the investigation would continue since the recovered body wasn’t who they thought it was.
He said: “The family checked and the body wasn’t their son’s, so this means that the investigation is still on-going.”
He said: “The family checked and the body wasn’t their son’s, so this means that the investigation is still on-going.”
On the doctor’s driver, Henry Ita, who was still in detention, he said: “The driver has given us his statement. He is still helping us in our investigation. He will be released at the appropriate time.”
Also, following the false alarm on the discovery of the doctor, the emergency workers who had called off the search, resumed the search after the family had confirmed that the body was not that of the doctor.
Also, following the false alarm on the discovery of the doctor, the emergency workers who had called off the search, resumed the search after the family had confirmed that the body was not that of the doctor.
Emergency workers from Lagos State Emergency Management (LASEMA), Lagos Ferry Services, the Lagos Waterways Agency and Marine Patrol had resumed the search at press time.
The General Manager, LASEMA, Mr. Adesina Tiamiyu, confirmed that they would continue searching the waterways until it yields results.
The General Manager, LASEMA, Mr. Adesina Tiamiyu, confirmed that they would continue searching the waterways until it yields results.
According to a post by one Ruth Okija on Instagram, Dr. Orji was a 2008 student of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (Unilag). He was a locum medical officer with Mount Sinai Hospital
The post also revealed that the light-complexioned doctor was born on May 21 and loved reading in his spare time, adding that he found the practice sessions on respiratory and cardiovascular examinations very interesting.
The post also revealed that the light-complexioned doctor was born on May 21 and loved reading in his spare time, adding that he found the practice sessions on respiratory and cardiovascular examinations very interesting.
It was also gathered from a post by the Nigeria Medical Association, Taraba Branch, that the doctor was battling with Sickle Cell Anaemia.
Due to his passion for surgery, he wrote the exam for his residency in surgery, so that he could become a consultant and passed but due to his ailment, he was turned down.
The hospital was said to have turned him down because its management felt his ailment, which is usually accompanied by seizures, could be a deterrent in the performance of his duties.
It was also gathered that the family got him a driver because of the seizures and had just employed his driver.
Also, one of his former classmates at the university, one Dr. Attah Essien, confirmed on his Facebook wall that the doctor attended Unilag.
Also, one of his former classmates at the university, one Dr. Attah Essien, confirmed on his Facebook wall that the doctor attended Unilag.
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