The Commissioner for Secondary Education, Kingsley Ashibogwu, and four others have been arrested by the Delta State Police Command over the death of Unity Adeda, a deputy director in the ministry, and equally launched a manhunt for two other persons described as key suspects in the investigation.
Penpushing reports that the Command Public Relations Officer Bright Edafe, made this known in a statement explaining that Adeda reportedly died after an incident at the commissioner’s office, with conflicting accounts emerging over what transpired before his death
The police in its first statement on the matter, said it had arrested one of the persons named in allegations that Adeda was physically assaulted by aides to the commissionerm, and identified the suspect as Lucky Adoh, and also named two others, Enos Attah and Oputa Okestine, in connection with the allegations.
Penpushing further reports that the the command in the latest statement said it had taken Ashibogwu and three other suspects into custody, bringing to five the number of people currently held in connection with the investigation.
The Command however, identified Clemetine Ufuoma, director of Basic and Secondary Education, and Clement Apia, the commissioner’s driver, as the two persons currently being sought, stressing that the presence of Ufuoma and Apia was required to further the investigation and urged them to report to the police without delay
Penpushing also reports that there are conflicting accounts around Adeda’s death, however, workers in the Delta State Ministry of Secondary Education had demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to his death.
The Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) on Friday shut the state secretariat in Asaba as workers demanded an investigation and accountability over the incident, however,Ashibogwu has denied ordering or participating in any assault on Adeda.
Penpushing reports Ashibogwu explained that he responded to distress calls concerning Adeda and alleged that the deceased had become violent before their encounter, and urged the public to allow investigators to establish what happened through available evidence.
The Commissione equally emphasised that he did not order or participated in any assault, stating that his account should be tested against available evidence.
Penpushing further reports that Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, said the state government would not sweep the matter under the carpet, adding that its immediate priority was to establish the facts and determine the cause of Mr Adeda’s death.
“There are different conjectures as to what may have led to the death of our brother who passed away in the hospital. Perhaps, as the autopsy would have been able to establish, what transpired, and indeed medical examination will determine the cause of death,” he said.
“I can assure you that nothing is going to be swept under the carpet. It will be known what happened and then the necessary action will be taken,” Aniagwu said, while appealing for restraint and assuring the workers that necessary action would follow the findings’, he stated
Punch reported
Penpushing also reports that the Commissioner of Police, Samuel Erale, directed the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident, assuring that investigation would establish the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death and determine whether anyone was culpable.
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