Victor EzejaFamily and friends of a Nigerian medical doctor, Chukwuemeka Sunday Agbo, who died in Amman, Jordan, have petitioned the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the United Nations Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS) to carry out a thorough and transparent investigation into his demise.
They also called on members of the public to support the call for WHO and UNDSS to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAgbo, a 45-year-old medical doctor, who worked with WHO reportedly, died three months after he arrived in Amman, Jordan.
He was said to have died on 9 June 2024 after falling from the 3rd floor of the apartment where he lived.
However, according to the petition addressed to WHO and UNDSS, the family, upon arrival in Amman, discovered that Dr Agbo lived on the first floor of a two-storey apartment, contrary to an earlier report.
“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,” part of the statement read.
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It said the family also discovered injuries on his face, and forehead and blood stains in other parts of the body which suggested he was attacked.
It added that the hospital authorities prevented the family from taking pictures of Dr. Agbo.
With the circumstances surrounding his death, the family suspects that he was killed by some of his colleagues.
The statement said the deceased had two weeks before his demise, repeatedly told his wife about hostilities and conflicts he was facing at work from two of his colleagues.
“These 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. They insist on seeing pictures of their brother from the time he was found at his apartment compound and before the autopsy was conducted. This would assist in gathering all the facts for reference for all parties involved,” it stressed.
The statement said a report of an independent autopsy carried out after the medical doctor’s body was brought back to Nigeria revealed “multiple skull fractures, blunt force trauma.” Pathologists in Nigeria, according to the report, confirmed that his skull was shattered through physical attack, and ruled out possible suicide or accidental death as suggested by the earlier report. They contended that the injuries observed on the body and his death could not 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,” it added.
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The statement further stated that the family of the deceased has reached out to the WHO Amman office and the UNDSS to enquire about their efforts towards finding out what happened to him in the course of his duty, in line with the United Nation’s provisions for Cases of Death in Service, which stipulates that “when a staff member including WHO staff, dies under suspicious or unclear circumstances, it is the responsibility of the UNDSS to initiate and conduct an independent investigation.”
It, however, said neither UNDSS nor WHO had conducted any investigation into the suspicious death of Dr. Agbo.
Dr Agbo was a public health professional, who hailed Isi-Uzo LGA in Enugu State. He worked with WHO for 10 years. Some of the countries he worked in include Kenya, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Malawi, and Nigeria. He led campaigns in the areas of polio eradication, Ebola, Cholera outbreak and other popular public health issues.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
