*FAMILY DEMANDS AUTOPSY, WHEREABOUTS OF CORPSE AS QUESTIONS MOUNT OVER BUSINESSMAN’S FINAL DAYS
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested Mr Justin Iwerebor and his wife, Anthonia, parents of Pearl Okafor, wife of popular cleric and founder of Grace Nation International Church, Pastor Chris Okafor, over investigations into the suspicious death of a Germany-based Nigerian businessman, Solomon Iwerebor.
The couple were reportedly arrested on Monday, November 2, 2026, following a petition by the deceased’s family, which is demanding a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Justin Iwerebor is the elder brother of the deceased.
Solomon, who lived in Germany with his wife and children, had reportedly travelled to Nigeria and was staying at the residence of his brother and sister-in-law before his death.
According to the family, Solomon lost contact with other relatives for more than two years after moving into his brother’s residence, raising concerns about his whereabouts and welfare.
When efforts to reach him proved unsuccessful, his daughter, Jade, who lives in Germany, reportedly contacted Pearl Okafor to enquire about her father.
Pearl allegedly told her that Solomon had taken ill, could no longer speak and had been moved to Benin City, Edo State, for medical treatment.
However, the family said it was shocked to receive news of his death from a third party on September 6, 2026, several days after he had reportedly died.
The family has expressed serious concerns over the circumstances surrounding his death, alleging that it was not properly informed about his illness, the hospital where he was treated or the medical attention he received before his demise.
More disturbing, according to the family, is its inability to establish the whereabouts of Solomon’s remains despite repeated efforts to obtain answers.
Two sisters of the deceased, Stella Iwerebor and Udo Hamis, alongside the family’s lawyer, Dr Charles Mekwunye, SAN, have called on the police to conduct a comprehensive investigation.
Speaking at a press conference, the sisters said their family deserved to know what happened to their brother and why vital information about his final days remained unclear.
“All we want is proper investigation. Our brother has died under very disturbing circumstances and we want to know how he died,” they said.
They expressed anguish that while one brother had died, another brother and his wife had become subjects of police investigation over the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
The case has attracted further attention because of the deceased’s reported relationship with Pastor Chris Okafor’s church.
According to the family’s petition, Solomon was an active member of Grace Nation International Church and allegedly spent substantial sums of money seeking spiritual intervention and deliverance.
The family believes Pastor Okafor and his wife, Pearl, may possess relevant information concerning Solomon’s health condition and movements before his death.
The cleric was also reportedly seen at the police formation on Thursday, November 5. However, it remains unclear whether his visit was at the invitation of investigators or in support of his in-laws.
A representative of Pastor Okafor reportedly said the cleric would address the matter at the appropriate time.
Meanwhile, the family’s lawyer had initially petitioned the Lagos State Commissioner of Police on September 15, 2026, demanding an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Solomon’s death.
The matter was subsequently referred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Lagos.
However, the family later raised concerns over an alleged attempt by the Zone 2 Police Command to take over the investigation, prompting another petition to the Inspector-General of Police on October 23, 2026.
The family also alleged that there had been pressure to secure the release of the arrested couple, although the claim of interference has not been independently established.
Among its demands are that the police identify the hospital in Benin City where Solomon was allegedly treated, obtain his medical records, establish the whereabouts of his remains and conduct an autopsy to determine the actual cause of death.
The family has equally urged investigators to ensure that the remains are not buried, cremated or otherwise disposed of in a manner that could frustrate forensic investigations.
For now, the circumstances surrounding Solomon’s death remain unresolved, with the family insisting that only a transparent and thorough investigation can provide the answers it desperately seeks.
The arrest of Justin and Anthonia does not amount to a finding of guilt. As of the time of this report, the police had not announced the conclusion of their investigation or filed criminal charges against the couple. There is also no established evidence that Pastor Chris Okafor or his wife committed any offence in connection with the matter.
