Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The House of Representatives has ordered a four-week investigation into the death of National Youth Service Corps member Etimbuk Daniel Sunday at an orientation camp in Enugu State, following concerns over the medical treatment he received and the condition of his body when it was returned to his family.
The resolution was adopted at plenary on Tuesday after lawmakers considered a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Idem Unyime, Chairman of the House Committee on Public Procurement.
Sunday, a former Students’ Union Government president of Akwa Ibom State University, died on October 11, 2026. Concerns have emerged over the medical care he received after falling ill at the NYSC orientation camp.
According to details presented in the motion, Sunday visited the camp clinic on October 7 with symptoms believed to be consistent with malaria or typhoid. He received initial treatment and was discharged with oral medication.
However, lawmakers questioned the treatment administered, the subsequent deterioration of his health and an alleged delay in transferring him to a hospital for further medical attention.
The House said an independent and impartial investigation was necessary to determine whether appropriate medical procedures were followed and whether an earlier hospital referral could have changed the outcome.
Lawmakers also expressed concern over allegations that Sunday’s body was returned to his family naked and with visible bruises, calling for the circumstances surrounding the handover to be thoroughly examined.
They stressed that “both the circumstances of his death and the reported condition of his body require clear answers.”
The House mandated its Committees on Youth Development, Health Care Services, Police Affairs and Human Rights to conduct a joint investigation and submit their findings within four weeks.
The committees are expected to examine the medical care provided to Sunday, how his deteriorating condition was handled, the alleged delay in hospital referral and the circumstances surrounding the release of his body to his family. The inquiry will also seek to establish whether any lapses occurred and determine responsibility if wrongdoing is established.
Beyond the case, the lawmakers called on the Federal Ministries of Youth Development and Health and Social Welfare, alongside the NYSC Directorate, to review medical services and emergency response procedures at orientation camps nationwide.
The House emphasised the need for adequately equipped clinics, qualified healthcare personnel, effective emergency protocols and prompt referrals to hospitals whenever corps members require specialised treatment.
The NYSC orientation programme is a compulsory part of Nigeria’s one-year national service scheme for eligible graduates. Corps members undergo residential orientation for several weeks before deployment to their primary places of assignment.
