Dear Friends and Supporters of Justice,

We kindly ask for your help by signing this petition urging the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS) to carry out a thorough and transparent investigation into the suspicious death of Dr. Chukwuemeka "Emeka" Sunday Agbo, a dedicated WHO staff member, loving husband and father in Amman, Jordan.

On Sunday June 9th 2024, the family members were told by WHO officials in Amman Jordan that Dr. Emeka slipped and fell from the roof of a three-story building to the ground of his residence. However, when family members traveled to Amman, they discovered discrepancies which confirmed the initial report to be incorrect. They found out that Dr. Emeka lived on the first floor of a two-story building, not a three-story one. His body was found on the balcony of the first floor at the back of his apartment. The family requested for the initial official notification from the WHO Office in Jordan which had relayed the inaccurate version of events, and are yet to receive it. 

 

 

For about two weeks before his death, Dr. Emeka had repeatedly expressed concerns to his wife about hostilities and conflicts he was facing at work from two of his colleagues. On the Saturday before he died, he had been house hunting and working on an official presentation for a meeting in Geneva on Monday. He had submitted those PowerPoint presentations to his office on Saturday night around 8:00pm Amman time. On Sunday morning around 6:45am he was found dead on the balcony of the first floor where he lived. The police were informed and his body was taken to the hospital around 7:45am where he was pronounced to have been dead for about 6-12 hours.

When the family members traveled to Amman, Jordan to identify Dr. Emeka, they observed several injuries on his face that suggested he had been attacked. He had a deep laceration on his forehead, which had apparently bled extensively—his shirt and undershirt were soaked in blood. The left side of the top of his head was swollen. His right eye was swollen as if he had been punched, while his left eye was slightly open. Disturbingly, the hospital authorities prevented the family from taking pictures of Dr. Emeka.

These observations led the family to immediately question the initial report that Dr. Emeka fell to his death, as it was clear to them that he had been attacked and killed. They insist on seeing pictures of their brother from the time he was found at his apartment compound and before the autopsy was conducted. This would assist in gathering all the facts for reference for all parties involved.

When, Dr Emeka was brought back to his home state, in Nigeria, an independent autopsy carried out by reputable pathologists. The autopsy revealed multiple skull fractures, blunt force trauma. The pathologists in Nigeria confirmed that his skull was shattered by blunt force trauma and ruled out suicide or accidental death and the death cannot be caused by a single fall. The injuries suggest foul play, and the lack of a thorough investigation from the Jordanian authorities and lack of interest by the WHO and UNDSS in Jordan has only strengthened the family’s concerns. 

The family has reached out to the WHO Amman office and the UNDSS to enquire about the circumstances regarding his death and their expected support towards finding out what happened to him in the course of his duty to the organization. This is in line with the United Nation’s Handbook for Action in Cases of Death in Service (pages 65-87), which stipulates that ‘when a staff member including WHO staff, dies under suspicious or unclear circumstances, it is the responsibility of the United Nations Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS) to initiate and coordinate an independent investigation.’ However, neither UNDSS nor WHO has conducted any investigation into the suspicious death of Dr. Chukwuemeka Sunday Agbo, a loyal staff member who dedicated over 10 years of service to them.

Dr. Emeka was a dedicated and passionate public health professional who brought energy and humility to his work. For more than a decade, he made significant contributions to public health while working with the WHO on a contract basis in Kenya, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Malawi, and Nigeria. Tragically, just six weeks after starting a full-time role at the WHO Regional Office in Amman, he died under suspicious circumstances. His untimely death has left his loved ones seeking answers and justice.

 

 

We, the friends and family of Dr. Chukwuemeka Sunday Agbo, urgently call for a thorough and transparent investigation by UNDSS and WHO, in line with their mandate, to hold those responsible for Emeka’s death accountable and to ensure better protection for WHO staff and indeed staff of other International Organizations working in the region, particularly those of African and Nigerian descent.

We urge the Nigerian Government, the United Nations and international bodies to address these injustices and create a safe, more equitable system for all. The family, including his aged mother, young wife, children, and siblings, demand immediate action to investigate Dr. Emeka’s death in order to bring much needed closure to the family and forestall further emotional trauma.

How Can You Help?

Please sign this petition to support our call for justice. Your signature can make a difference by:

• Helping uncover the truth behind Dr. Emeka's death.
• Ensuring better protection for staff of International Organizations working around the world particularly those of Nigerian and African descent.

Thank you for your compassion and support.

Signed,

Friends and Family of Dr. Chukwuemeka Sunday Agbo