Nigerian Navy (NN) on Thursday said it has arrested 3 officers and a civilian staff over alleged torture and murder of a civilian staff, Mr. Ifeanyi Richard Onumaegbu on April 2, 2024 in Lagos.
The suspected personnel includes 2 sub- Lieutenants and 1 Lieutenant
Onumaegbu was a staff of the ministry of defence attached to the NNRH in Ojo, Lagos. 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 civilian staff and the navy personnel have been identified and put in custody.
On April 8, the joint executive council of the ministry of defence embarked on a peaceful demonstration to mourn Onumaegbu.
The Director of Information (Dinfo) Commodore Adams Aliu in a statement said that Nigerian Navy (NN) is deeply saddened by the demise of Mr Ifeanyi Richard Onumaegbu and the circumstances surrounding his death.
He said 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, 2024,
“A preliminary investigation revealed that 4 days earlier, on March 26, 2024, the deceased was involved in an altercation with a civilian lady and some NN personnel in Navy Town barracks, Ojo, Lagos state.
“Consequently, all suspected personnel and the civilian lady involved in the previous altercation were identified and are currently under close custody” Aliu said.
The Spokesperson stated further that 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.
He added that 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.
