[attach id=256341 size="medium"]This stock picture shows demonstrators calling for justice over the deaths of Ifeanyi Nwokoye and Marmadou Kamara. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi[/attach]
A Nigerian migrant who died in suspicious circumstances more than two years ago and was kept in the hospital mortuary ever since has finally been buried. Ifeanyi Nwokoye, 29, died in April 2011 after he escaped from the Safi detention centre and was recaptured by soldiers.
Sources close to the case said the soldiers were found to have “dealt blows to him” before he died, raising doubts over the original claim that he died of natural causes.
The Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security has turned down a Freedom of Information request by Times of Malta to publish the findings of two inquiries into the case. The ministry says the decision was taken not to prejudice the investigation.
Times of Malta requested publication of the reports of a government-appointed inquiry, headed by Martin Scicluna, and the magisterial inquiry conducted by Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona.
In refusing to publish the reports, the ministry cited article 30 of the Freedom of Information Act, which states: “A document is an exempt document if its disclosure under this Act would, or could reasonably be expected to: prejudice the conduct of an investigation of a breach, or possible breach, of the law, or a failure, or possible failure, to comply with a law relating to taxation or prejudice the enforcement or proper administration of the law in a particular instance.”
The Ministry for Home Affairs has turned down a Freedom of Information request to publish the finding of two inquiries
Times of Malta has filed an appeal through the FOI’s Internal Complaints Procedure.
Some of the Scicluna inquiry findings had been published in October 2011 but the Government had said the full report would only be released once the magisterial inquiry was concluded.
The magisterial inquiry had been concluded but its content was still being examined last September
Attorney General Peter Grech said last September that the magisterial inquiry had been concluded but its content was still being examined to see if further questions need to be raised.
Asked again about the matter last month, Dr Grech said the inquiry had not yet been “archived”.
“If a case is ‘archived’ that would mean that a decision was made that there is no further action to take.
“I don’t think I can add anything to that,” he said.
Mr Infeanyi’s body was kept frozen in the morgue for more than two years due to disagreement over whether to bury him.
His family had requested a postponement of the burial, demanding an explanation of how he had died.
The Health Ministry has confirmed that Mr Ifeanyi was finally laid to rest at the Addolorata Cemetery on May 2.
cperegin@timesofmalta.com