…as police explain why reburial went uninterrupted
Police authorities in Benin City, the Edo State capital, say they are putting final touches to investigations which will lead up to the arraignment in court, of a man who allegedly exhumed and hid the corpse of his octogenarian step brother for over two years in the course of a family squabble.
The name of the deceased octogenarian was given as Pa Anthony Edebiri , while the name of the brother who allegedly exhumed the corpse was given as Mr. Obakpolo Edebiri.
The police also say they allowed the reburial of the exhumed corpse to go uninterrupted after investigations revealed the matter centered around a family disagreement and not criminality, as alleged in a petition received by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5, AIG Arungwa Nwazue Udo.
It was further explained that the police, having been notified of arrangements to rebury the illegally exhumed body, decided to steer clear in the interest of public order, safety and peace.
The Public Relations Officer, Police Zone 5 headquarters, Benin City, DSP Tijani Momoh, made these observations while fielding questions from our crime correspondent in the state capital.
“We learnt that the deceased only son has come to bury his father, he did not commit any crime by that. So if anyone knows of any crime he committed by burying his father such a person should report to the police and we will act.
“Besides, the police did not get any order or directive to stop the funeral. Invading a place where family members were gathered would have been counterproductive”, DSP Tijani said.
On his earlier statement that investigators were awaiting legal advice on the action of one Mr. Obakpolor Edebiri, said to have admitted exhuming his brother’s corpse, DSP Tijani said the man has a case to answer.
The police spokesman revealed that investigators at the homicide section had concluded their investigation and made a comprehensive report to the AIG who earlier directed them to investigate issues raised in the petition.
He stated that the report recommended trial of the man who illegally exhumed his brother’s corpse.
“The police will do everything within the law in treating the case”, DSP Tijani assured.
It will be recalled that police in zone 5 headquarters had over a month ago, informed journalists that they were searching for the corpse of one Pa. Anthony Edebiri, 87, exhumed and stolen from his private residence in Benin City since January 10, 2021.
Police also announced last month that the corpse was traced to the deceased step brother, one Mr. Obakpolor Edebiri.
He reportedly admitted to exhuming and relocating his brother’s corpse to a location he never disclosed. He said he believed that he would die if he revealed the location of the corpse because he was sworn to an oath of secrecy.
However, the corpse of Pa. Anthony Edebiri resurfaced and was reburied in the presence of his only son, Mr. Edwin Edebiri in the early hours of Friday, June 30, 2023.
Many had thought that the reburial of the corpse which some family members said was never stolen but simply kept for proper burial, would foreclose police investigation.
