The coroner inquest into the controversial killing of 45 years old Dr. Chukwuemeka Sunday Agbo, a polio specialist with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Amman, Jordan, has commenced in Enugu magistrate court without Agbo’s employer, WHO, under whose custody Agbo was allegedly murdered, indicating interest in the investigation....CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE➤
Agbo’s family members have severely accused the United Nations agency, WHO, of noncooperation in the investigation of the brutal murder of their breadwinner in Amman, six weeks after he was employed as the Technical officer EM/POL Polio Eradication Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) World Health Organization Amman, Jordan.
According to the family source, Dr. Agbo immediately on resumption of duty in Amman started complaining about hostility at work by colleagues in Amman and was still complaining about their threat until he was killed savagely while the office claimed that Dr Agbo fell from the roof of a three story building.
During the initial inquest hearing in the Enugu magistrate court, leading pathologists who performed the autopsy in Nigeria, following stringent United Nations protocols and guidelines, asserted that Agbo was brutally assaulted and killed.
Shocking revelations came to light indicating that the autopsy conducted in Jordan failed to include critical details. Specifically, it was discovered that Dr. Agbo’s skull was shattered by a powerful blow, causing fragments to penetrate deep into his brain. Twenty eight (28) pieces of his skull bones had been packed into a polythene bag and sewn back into his skull.
The above information, it was revealed, was not included in the report of the autopsy done in Jordan which the family received. The pathologists insisted that application of blunt force trauma to the skull was what shattered the skull (as was also noted in the autopsy carried out in Jordan).
On Sunday June 9th 2024, Dr. Agbo’s family members were told by WHO officials in Amman Jordan that Emeka slipped and fell from the roof of a three-story building to the ground of his residence.
However, when family members travelled to Amman, they discovered discrepancies that confirmed the initial report to be incorrect. They found out that Dr. Emeka lived on the first floor of a two-story building, not a three-story one. His body was found on the balcony of the first floor at the back of his apartment. The family requested for the initial official notification from the WHO Office in Jordan which had relayed the inaccurate version of events, and are yet to receive it.
The late Dr. Agbo’s brother, Jideofor, said, “For about two weeks before his death, Emeka had repeatedly expressed concerns to his wife about hostilities and conflicts he was facing at work from two of his colleagues. On the Saturday before he died, he had been house hunting and working on an official presentation for a meeting in Geneva on Monday. He had submitted those PowerPoint presentations to his office on Saturday night around 8:00pm Amman time. On Sunday morning around 6:45am he was found dead on the balcony of the first floor where he lived. The police were informed and his body was taken to the hospital around 7:45am where he was pronounced to have been dead for about 6-12 hours.”
The pathologists stated that the findings from the autopsy and the full body x-ray clearly demonstrate that Dr. Agbo’s death was not due to a fall from a height as the family had been informed in June 2024.
“If it had been so, his cervical and thoracic bones would not have been intact in view of the massive skull damage. In other words, a fall from a height would have caused multiple fractures to the neck, chest, arms, and spinal vertebrae, not just isolated skull damage of this nature,” Jideofor quoted the pathologists.
The evidence provided by the pathologists at the inquest regarding the brutal execution / murder of Dr Chukwuemeka Agbo was so traumatic to those who were in court that the family members have chosen to provide just a brief insight.
“The World Health Organization (WHO) in Nigeria was summoned to the hearing but did not attend. Its representation at the inquest is important, and we call on the WHO to participate in future hearings to understand what happened to their staff in Jordan,” Jideofor pleaded.
He further asked for the support of the Nigeria government through its ministry of foreign affairs, the Diaspora commission, international and local human rights groups to help present Dr. Agbo’s case before various tribunals and parliamentary bodies.
“We kindly urge the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS) to carry out a thorough and transparent investigation into the suspicious death of Dr. Chukwuemeka “Emeka” Sunday Agbo, a dedicated WHO staff member, loving husband and father in Amman, Jordan.
“When we the family members traveled to Amman, Jordan to identify Dr. Emeka, we observed several injuries on his face that suggested he had been attacked. He had a deep laceration on his forehead, which had apparently bled extensively—his shirt and undershirt were soaked in blood. The left side of the top of his head was swollen. His right eye was swollen as if he had been punched, while his left eye was slightly open. Disturbingly, the hospital authorities prevented the family from taking pictures of Dr. Emeka,” Jideofor reported.
He said that their observations led the family to immediately question the initial report that Dr. Emeka fell to his death, as it was clear to them that he had been attacked and killed, adding that they insist on seeing pictures of their brother from the time he was found at his apartment compound and before the autopsy was conducted so as to assist in gathering all the facts for reference for all parties involved.
“When, Dr Emeka was brought back to Nigeria, an independent autopsy was carried out by reputable pathologists. The autopsy revealed multiple skull fractures, blunt force trauma. The pathologists in Nigeria confirmed that his skull was shattered by blunt force trauma and ruled out suicide or accidental death and the death cannot be caused by a single fall. The injuries suggest foul play, and the lack of a thorough investigation from the Jordanian authorities and lack of interest by the WHO and UNDSS in Jordan has only strengthened the family’s concerns.
“We have reached out to the WHO Amman office and the UNDSS to enquire about the circumstances regarding his death and their expected support towards finding out what happened to him in the course of his duty to the organization. This is in line with the United Nation’s Handbook for Action in Cases of Death in Service (pages 65-87), which stipulates that ‘when a staff member including WHO staff, dies under suspicious or unclear circumstances, it is the responsibility of the United Nations Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS) to initiate and coordinate an independent investigation.’ However, neither UNDSS nor WHO has conducted any investigation into the suspicious death of my brother, a loyal staff member who dedicated over 10 years of service to them.”
He noted that Dr. Emeka was a dedicated and passionate public health professional who brought energy and humility to his work. For more than a decade, he made significant contributions to public health while working with the WHO on a contract basis in Kenya, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Malawi, and Nigeria.
“Tragically, just six weeks after starting a full-time role at the WHO Regional Office in Amman, he died under suspicious circumstances. His untimely death has left us, his loved ones seeking answers and justice.
“We, the family and his friends urgently call for a thorough and transparent investigation by UNDSS and WHO, in line with their mandate, to hold those responsible for Emeka’s death accountable and to ensure better protection for WHO staff and indeed staff of other International Organizations working in the region, particularly those of African and Nigerian descent.
“We urge the Nigerian Government, the United Nations and international bodies to address these injustices and create a safe, more equitable system for all. The family, including his aged mother, young wife, children, and siblings, demand immediate action to investigate Dr. Emeka’s death in order to bring much needed closure to the family and forestall further emotional trauma,” Jidefor petitioned. ...CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE➤
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