A mortuary attendant at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Muritala Raimi, was yesterday remanded at Agodi Prisons, Ibadan, Oyo State, for allegedly stealing a human skull belonging to one of the corpses kept in the hospital’s morgue.
Raimi, 57, was arraigned on a two-count charge of stealing and misconduct.
Although the court granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum, one of the sureties must be a member of the family.
The accused had yet to meet his bail conditions as at the time of filing this report.
Sources hinted that the accused was arrested after he had allegedly decapitated the remains of the yet to be identified corpse.
He was said to have concealed the decapitated head in a bag and attempted to move out, when he was caught by security guards on duty.
When it dawned on him that his secret deal had been blown open, Raimi allegedly attempted to run away but was later arrested by the police.
He was said to have been taken to Yemetu Police Station, Ibadan.
When he appeared before Magistrate Akanni Monsurat in court 4, he pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.
According to the charge sheet signed by a Superintendent of Police, Adeniyi Odebiyi,”Muritala Raimi, aged 57, on the 15th May, 2017 at about 05: 30pm at UCH Ibadan in Ibadan magisterial district did steal human skull inside UCH mortuary and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 3 of the criminal code cap 38 vol. 11 laws of Oyo State of Nigeria.
“That you Muritala Raimi on the same date, place in the aforementioned magisterial district did misconduct with regard to corpse by decapitating a corpse deposited at UCH mortuary and thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under section 242 of the criminal code cap cap 38, vol. 11 laws of Oyo State”.
The matter was later adjourned to May 5, 2017 for further hearing.
