Guardian Nigeria
The Nigerian Navy (NN) have identified and placed all suspected personnel and the civilian lady involved in the altercations that resulted in the death of their civilian staff, Mr Ifeanyi Richard Onumegbu, under close custody.
The Navy have also 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.
Confirming the development in a statement yesterday, spokesperson for the Navy, Commodore Aiwuyor Augustine Adams-Aliu, on behalf of the Chief of Navy Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, expressed deep sadness over Onumaegbu’s demise and the circumstances surrounding his death.
“The NN wish 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 March 31, he was found lifeless in his office at NNRH. A preliminary investigation revealed that four days earlier, on March 26, 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 NN have 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 wish 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,” he said.
