*As NAFDAC Finds Methanol, Cannabis In Samples
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The Ondo State Government has formally requested the constitution of a Coroner’s Court to investigate the deaths of 49 persons linked to the suspected consumption of toxic locally prepared alcoholic and herbal concoctions popularly referred to as “Monkey Tail”, as authorities move from emergency public-health intervention towards a judicial inquiry, possible prosecution and tighter regulation of the sector.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Ondo State, Dr Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, disclosed that he had written to the Chief Judge of the state requesting the constitution of a coroner’s court to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths and establish both their immediate and remote causes.
The development comes as the death toll released by the Ondo State Government rose to 49, following weeks of illnesses and fatalities linked to the consumption of suspected toxic alcoholic and herbal preparations in parts of the state.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control had, in its earlier update covering cases recorded as of September 17, confirmed 48 deaths among 182 persons affected by the outbreak.
NAFDAC said 90 of those affected had been admitted to hospitals and subsequently discharged, six remained hospitalised, while 31 were treated as outpatients.
Five victims were reported to have become totally blind, while two others suffered partial blindness, bringing the number of persons who suffered visual impairment to seven.
The agency’s preliminary laboratory findings also provided a clearer indication of the possible toxic agents involved.
NAFDAC said laboratory analysis of samples collected from the affected communities confirmed high concentrations of methanol, a highly toxic chemical capable of causing blindness, organ failure and death when consumed.
Of the 15 samples subjected to laboratory examination, 11 also tested positive for Cannabis indica.
The agency said gas chromatography confirmed high concentrations of methanol in the samples, while acute oral toxicity testing produced serious illness and approximately 50 per cent mortality among laboratory mice exposed to six of the 15 samples, indicating significant toxic potential.
The affected communities are predominantly in Odigbo Local Government Area and include New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu and Oniparaga, with Odigbo town and Araromi-Obu recording particularly severe impacts.
Cases have also been reported in neighbouring Irele Local Government Area.
Against the background of the rising fatalities and laboratory findings, Ajulo said the state government considered it necessary to activate the coroner’s process rather than limit its intervention to administrative investigations.
“Immediately the matter came to the attention of government, I formally wrote to the Honourable Chief Judge of Ondo State requesting the constitution of a Coroner’s Court to inquire into the deaths,” the Attorney-General said.
“The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy and establish, on the basis of evidence, both the immediate and remote causes of the deaths.”
A coroner’s inquest is a fact-finding judicial process principally concerned with establishing how, when and under what circumstances a person died, particularly where a death is sudden, unnatural, violent, suspicious or otherwise requires formal judicial inquiry.
In the Ondo incident, the proposed inquest is expected to provide an evidential basis for determining not only the medical cause of the deaths but also the circumstances surrounding the preparation, distribution and consumption of the substances linked to the fatalities.
Ajulo said the state government’s responsibility would extend beyond simply determining what happened.
According to him, authorities must establish why the incident occurred, whether it could have been prevented and what legal, regulatory and administrative measures are necessary to prevent a recurrence.
The Attorney-General disclosed that the Ministry of Justice has also been reviewing the regulatory framework governing the preparation, production, distribution, sale and consumption of locally prepared herbal and alcoholic products in Ondo State.
He said the review was aimed at identifying gaps in the existing regulatory structure and determining appropriate legislative, regulatory and administrative interventions that fall within the constitutional powers of the state government.
“Accordingly, the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice has been reviewing the regulatory framework governing the preparation, production, distribution, sale and consumption of locally prepared herbal and alcoholic products, in consultation with relevant authorities for a time now,” Ajulo said.
He added that efforts to strengthen regulation of the sector actually predated the recent deaths, noting that stakeholders and concerned citizens had previously submitted a draft regulatory framework to his office.
The government is consequently considering whether existing laws and administrative mechanisms sufficiently regulate those involved in preparing and selling locally produced herbal mixtures and alcoholic drinks and whether additional rules are required to protect consumers.
Ajulo also made clear that the coroner’s proceedings and regulatory review would not preclude criminal prosecution where evidence establishes offences.
He said anyone found culpable following investigations would face appropriate legal proceedings, while stressing that liability must be established through evidence and due process rather than public suspicion.
“The process will include accountability. Where the evidence establishes criminal responsibility, the appropriate legal action will be taken in accordance with the Constitution and the law,” he said.
“No one will be shielded from investigation by reason of status, influence or connection and equally, no person will be condemned without due process.”
The government’s position comes amid demands for accountability over the production and distribution of the suspected toxic drinks.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, had called for the prosecution of suspects arrested in connection with the production, sale and distribution of the beverages, while state and federal regulatory authorities continue investigations into the outbreak.
NAFDAC has said the investigation remains ongoing and that further confirmatory testing is being conducted to determine the precise concentrations of methanol and identify any other toxic substances that may have contributed to the illnesses and deaths.
Clinical symptoms reported among affected persons included headaches, generalised weakness and body pains, visual disturbances, difficulty breathing and altered consciousness, with some victims deteriorating rapidly.
Methanol is a highly toxic form of alcohol that can cause severe metabolic poisoning, permanent visual impairment, organ damage and death, particularly when consumed in significant quantities.
The Ondo incident has therefore developed simultaneously into a public-health emergency, a regulatory issue and a potential criminal-law matter.
While the state government’s latest figure places the death toll at 49, NAFDAC’s previously published breakdown recorded 48 deaths as of September 17, meaning the difference reflects subsequent developments in the evolving casualty figures rather than necessarily conflicting official accounts.
Ajulo said the state’s response would ultimately be anchored on three principles — truth, accountability and p
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