Ondo AG Ends Autopsy Fees for Homicide Victims: ‘Justice Must Not Be Purchased’
AKURE, NIGERIA — If your relative dies in questionable circumstances and an autopsy is required, chances are that the family of the deceased will have to foot the bill.
But that will no longer be the case in Ondo State. In a major shift aimed at easing the burden on grieving families, the Government has announced an end to the practice of requiring relatives of homicide victims to pay for autopsies and other medical examinations essential for criminal investigations.
The State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Olukayode Ajulo SAN, declared that bereaved families should no longer shoulder the financial cost of establishing the cause of death when a person dies under suspicious, unnatural, or potentially criminal circumstances.
“A citizen who has suffered a crime should not be required to purchase justice before the State will investigate that crime,” Ajulo stated. “Justice must never become a commodity available only to those who can afford its preliminary cost.”
Closing Evidentiary Gaps
According to the Attorney-General, the lack of autopsy reports has historically hindered the successful prosecution of homicide cases in the state. He noted instances where prosecutors faced critical evidentiary gaps because families simply could not afford the fees demanded for medical examinations.
By removing this financial barrier, the state aims to ensure that crucial forensic evidence is preserved and presented properly in court, preventing criminal cases from collapsing due to a lack of funding.
Aligning with Modern Justice
Ajulo explained that the new directive aligns with the philosophy of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and the state’s Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL).
The frameworks promote a humane, efficient, and victim-sensitive justice system while still safeguarding the constitutional rights of the accused.
Under the new policy, appropriate state institutions and budgetary mechanisms will absorb the expenses for medico-legal examinations required during criminal investigations.
“Where a medical examination is an essential part of that criminal investigation, the burden should rest upon the government and the investigative authorities, not upon the victim’s grieving family,” Ajulo stressed.
A Call for Institutional Synergy
To ensure the seamless implementation of this policy, the Attorney-General called for closer coordination among the Nigeria Police Force, medical practitioners, the judiciary, and other relevant institutions.
He emphasized the need for streamlined procedures governing the preservation of evidence, the swift conduct of post-mortem examinations, and the prompt transmission of medical reports to prosecuting counsel.
This reform marks a significant step forward in Ondo State’s broader efforts to modernize its criminal justice administration, ensuring that poverty does not block the path to accountability and closure for victims of violent crime.
