Dana plane crash inquest: Pathologist’s absence stalls proceedings

(Nigeria) The absence of Prof. John Obafunwa, Chief Medical Examiner of Lagos State, on Monday stalled a coroner's inquest into the June 3, 2012 Dana plane crash at Iju-Ishaga, Lagos. Obafunwa, a Consultant Pathologist and Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University, LASU, was scheduled for further cross-examination.
The 153 passengers and some residents of Iju-Ishaga lost their lives to the crash.
Counsel to the Lagos State Government, told the court that Obafunwa's absence was due to a `crisis’ at LASU which needed his urgent attention.
"I spoke with him last night and this morning; he said he had a crisis in LASU that he had to attend to.
``He had hoped to be here this morning, but unfortunately, he could not make it," counsel said.
However, counsel to Dana Air,  expressed dissatisfaction with the reasons given for Obafunwa's absence.
Ayorinde asked the court to issue a subpoena on the professor to compel him to appear on Tuesday for the cross-examination.
``When I was cross-examining him, I said it was impossible for him to be chief examiner and vice-chancellor at the same time. It is not right for somebody to say 'my other job' was the reason for my absence when all of us have gathered here. He must be here tomorrow," counsel said.
Obafunwa, who headed the team that conducted post-mortem examinations on the victims of the crash, had provided the autopsy reports on the victims.
He had told the inquest that Prof. Adekunbi Banjo, a Consultant to the Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, was excluded from the team of forensic pathologists.
Banjo is scheduled to testify on May 22.
 Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, is also expected to appear before the inquest this week.
The Coroner, Mr Oyetade Komolafe, adjourned the case to May 21 for further hearing.