Dana Crash

Akinwale Akintunde
 
The Chief Medical Examiner of Lagos State and a consultant forensic pathologist, Professor John Obafunwa, yesterday told the Coroner’s Court in Ikeja that the result of the DNA tests on the bodies of some of the June 3 Dana crash victims will be ready next week.

The Coroner’s Court is currently conducting inquest into the cause of Dana plane crash in Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos in which 153 passengers and some residents of the area were killed.

The inquest is at the instance of a Lagos-based law firm, Falana and Falana Chambers who had petitioned the Lagos State Chief Coroner, Justice Lateefat Okunnu, for an inquiry into the incident.

Obafunwa, who is also the Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU), while testifying before the court presided over by Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, recounted the gory sight of some of the bodies brought to the Lagos State University Hospital (LASUTH).

The pathologist, in his evidence led by Mr. Akingbolahan Adeniran, a counsel from the state Ministry of Justice, said some of the victims contained bone fragments.

He said the pathology department was able to identify about 152 bodies, either complete or partial, adding that 60 per cent of the crash victims had multiple injuries while about 20 per cent had multiple injuries and smoke inhalation.