Buea High Court Adjourns Mount Mary Hospital Mortuary Case Over Mistaken Corpse.

The Fako High Court in Buea has adjourned to August 20, 2026, proceedings in a case involving Mount Mary Hospital and the family of the late Mua Josephine Nchang, following the mistaken release and burial of a body from the hospital’s mortuary.

The case has raised serious legal and human rights concerns surrounding dignity in death, the proper handling of human remains, accountability of healthcare institutions, and the rights of bereaved families.

According to reports by Mimi Mefo Info and Cameroon News Agency (CNA), the dispute arose after the body of Mrs. Bame Comfort Ndum, who died on June 11, 2026, was allegedly released by Mount Mary Hospital Mortuary to the wrong family.

Body of Bame Comfort Ndum Mistakenly Released

Mrs. Bame Comfort Ndum’s family had reportedly made arrangements to transport her remains from Mount Mary Hospital Mortuary to Weh Village in Menchum Division, where she was to be buried.

However, when the family arrived at the mortuary on June 30, 2026, they were allegedly presented with the body of Mrs. Mua Josephine Nchang instead.

According to the reports, Josephine Nchang’s family had earlier received the body belonging to Bame Comfort Ndum and subsequently buried it at Mankanikong in Bafut, believing that the remains were those of their relative.

The mistake was only discovered after the families became aware that the bodies had been wrongly identified.

The incident has left the affected families facing not only the practical difficulties of recovering and identifying the remains, but also significant emotional distress surrounding the burial of their loved ones.

Mount Mary Hospital Seeks Exhumation

During proceedings before the Fako High Court on Thursday, August 13, 2026, counsel for Mount Mary Hospital, Barrister Nkea Emmanuel, filed a motion seeking the exhumation of the body that had been wrongly buried. However, though, seeking the exhumation, the hospital rejected demands for financial compensation brought by the affected family.

Mount Mary Hospital’s position, as reported, is that compensation should not be awarded because the body was allegedly both wrongly received and wrongly buried by the family.

The hospital’s position has become a central point of contention in the proceedings.

Family Seeks Damages and Compensation

Through their legal representatives, the family of the late Mua Josephine Nchang filed a notice of preliminary objection and a counter-motion.

The family is seeking the exhumation of the remains as well as compensation for emotional distress, damages and costs incurred as a result of the mistaken identification and burial.

Their legal team also argued that Mount Mary Hospital had previously undertaken to search for the missing body and compensate the affected families.

The family therefore maintains that the hospital should not now distance itself from responsibility for the consequences of the mortuary error.

Lawyer Accuses Mount Mary Hospital of Bad Faith

According to the Cameroon News Agency, lawyer for the plaintiff, Barrister Emmanuel Likenye, has accused Mount Mary Hospital of acting in bad faith in its handling of the matter.

The allegation is likely to become an important issue as the court considers the competing applications and the broader question of responsibility for the mistaken release of the remains.

For the affected families, however, the dispute goes beyond financial compensation. It concerns the right to properly identify, recover and bury a loved one, as well as the dignity owed to deceased persons and their families.

Court to Rule on Pending Applications on August 20

Thursday’s proceedings were reportedly limited to interlocutory matters, including the preliminary objection and counter-motion filed by the family of Mua Josephine Nchang.

The Fako High Court has now adjourned the matter to August 20, 2026, when it is expected to deliver its ruling on the pending applications.

The substantive case is expected to proceed thereafter.

The case has attracted public attention because of the unusual circumstances surrounding the mistaken release and burial of the bodies and the legal questions concerning institutional accountability, compensation, negligence and the dignity of human remains.

As the proceedings continue, the court will have to determine the legal implications of the mortuary error, the responsibilities of the parties involved, and whether the affected families are entitled to the remedies they are seeking.

Human Rights and Legal Perspective

The incident underscores the importance of professional standards, accurate identification procedures and accountability in mortuary and healthcare services.

Beyond the immediate dispute between the hospital and the families, the case highlights a broader human rights principle: every person is entitled to dignity, including after death, while bereaved families have legitimate interests in the respectful identification, handling and burial of their loved ones.

The outcome of the proceedings could therefore have implications beyond the parties before the court, particularly for discussions around healthcare accountability, mortuary management, civil liability and the protection of the dignity of deceased persons in Cameroon.

Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) will continue to follow developments in the case and provide updates as the court proceedings progress.

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