A Yaba Chief Magistrate Court in Lagos has ordered the initiation of exhumation and autopsy procedures for the victims of the Afriland Towers fire incident that occurred on September 16, 2025. Presiding Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji gave the directive on Tuesday, following a petition from Femi Falana Chambers requesting a coroner’s inquest into the cause of the victims’ deaths.
The petition, dated September 29, 2025, was addressed to the Chief Coroner of Lagos State, Justice Mojisola Dada. Magistrate Adetunji instructed the petitioner to write to the Lagos State Government to facilitate the exhumation of the deceased and conduct an autopsy. The directive came after it was revealed that some of the victims had already been buried.
During the preliminary hearing, Magistrate Adetunji directed all parties involved to file necessary applications before the next hearing. The court also summoned several institutions, including the United Bank for Africa, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Fire Service, Afriland Towers, and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, among others.
The magistrate emphasized the importance of engaging with the families of the deceased to identify those willing to allow exhumation for autopsy purposes. She also appealed for eyewitnesses to come forward and provide testimonies regarding the incident. Yahaya Atata, a representative from Falana’s chambers, stated that the day’s proceedings aimed to bring all stakeholders together and define the framework for the inquest.
However, Magistrate Adetunji observed that the legal representatives were not fully prepared, emphasizing that the inquest could not proceed until all required documents and applications had been duly filed. Counsel to one of the deceased persons, A. O. Mema, informed the court that his client, Peter Ifaranmaye, a manager at the Federal Inland Revenue Service, had already been buried.
Magistrate Adetunji maintained that an autopsy remained a critical requirement, stating that it was fundamental to understanding exactly what happened. The case was subsequently adjourned to November 26, 2025, for further proceedings. The inquest into the Afriland Towers fire incident is expected to provide clarity on the cause of the victims’ deaths and ensure accountability. The court’s directive marks a significant step towards uncovering the truth behind the tragic incident.
