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Naval chief orders probe as civilian staff dies after ‘altercation with personnel’
Emmanuel Ogalla, chief of naval staff, has ordered a probe
into the death of Ifeanyi Onumaegbu, a civilian staff who was found lifeless in
his office at the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital (NNRH).
Onumaegbu was a staff of the ministry of defence, and had
been attached to the NNRH in Ojo, Lagos since 2009.
NAN quoted Ogalla as saying that Onumaegbu was found dead on
March 31.
“The navy is deeply saddened by the demise of Mr Ifeanyi
Onumaegbu and the circumstances surrounding his death,” Ogalla said.
“On March 31, he was
found lifeless in his office at NNRH.
“A preliminary investigation revealed that on March 26, the
deceased was involved in an altercation with a civilian lady and some NN
personnel in Navy Town Barracks.”
The naval chief said the civilian staff and the navy
personnel have been identified and put in custody, adding that the corpse has
been taken to a government hospital for autopsy.
“The NN further
wishes to assure his family and the public that all necessary measures are
being taken to unravel the cause of his death,” he said.
“Any person found culpable would be prosecuted according to
extant laws.”
On April 8, the joint executive council of the ministry of
defence embarked on a peaceful demonstration to mourn Onumaegbu.