Legal Battle Over Body Benedicta Onwordi has been denied the right to take custody of her partner’s body, Peter Otitoju, by a ruling from Mr Justice Roth following a High Court dispute involving one of Mr Otitoju’s relatives. Peter Otitoju, aged 67, passed away, and this legal battle emerged when it was revealed that Ms. Onwordi had made funeral arrangements without involving a family member.

Daughter’s Legal Action Adekemi Otitoju, 20, Mr. Otitoju’s daughter from Peckham, southeast London, initiated legal proceedings upon learning of Ms. Onwordi’s funeral plans. She argued that the responsibility for making the arrangements should lie with a family member and not her father’s “girlfriend.”

Injunction Request At a High Court hearing in London, Miss Otitoju requested an injunction to halt the scheduled burial, contending that it should not proceed as planned. The judge, Mr. Justice Roth, acknowledged the unique nature of the application presented to him.

Judge’s Decision After careful consideration, Mr. Justice Roth ruled in favor of Miss Otitoju. He concluded that a child of Mr. Otitoju should be granted permission to oversee his estate. Consequently, he ordered that Ms. Onwordi is not permitted to remove Mr. Otitoju’s body from a funeral home located in Walthamstow, east London. The judge affirmed Miss Otitoju’s right to take possession of her father’s remains and arrange for a burial.

Possible Challenge It is worth noting that Ms. Onwordi, although absent from the Wednesday hearing, is aware of Miss Otitoju’s legal actions and has the option to challenge the judge’s ruling should she choose to do so.