By Augustine Ehikioya
To unravel what caused the death of a civilian staff of the Ministry of Defence, Ifeanyi Richard Onumaegbu, the Nigerian Navy (NN) on Thursday explained the circumstances surrounding his death.
The family had demanded justice after he was alleged to have been beaten to death by four Naval officers.
About four days to his death, he was also seen having altercation with some persons including a civilian lady and Naval personnel.
A statement issued on Thursday by Commodore Aiwuyor Augustine Adams-Aliu for Chief of the Naval Staff, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA), said all those who had altercation with the deceased before his death have been put under custody.
It reads “The Nigerian Navy (NN) is deeply saddened by the demise of Mr Ifeanyi Richard Onumaegbu and the circumstances surrounding his death.
“The NN wishes to inform the general public that the deceased was an integral part of the NN family as a civilian staff of the Ministry of Defence attached to the Laboratory Department of the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital (NNRH) Ojo, Lagos since 2009 and he served meritoriously.
“On 31 March, 2024, he was found lifeless in his office at NNRH. A preliminary investigation revealed that 4 days earlier, on 26 March, 2024, the deceased was involved in an altercation with a civilian lady and some NN personnel in Navy Town barracks.
“Consequently, all suspected personnel and the civilian lady involved in the previous altercation were identified and are currently under close custody.”
The statement went on “The NN has facilitated the movement of the deceased’s body to a reputable government hospital in Lagos based on the request of the family for an autopsy.
“The NN further wishes to assure his family and general public that all necessary measures are being taken to unravel the cause of death and any person found culpable would be prosecuted according to extant laws.” it stated.
