Says anyone found culpable in the death “would be prosecuted according to extant laws”
The Nigerian Navy (NN) on Thursday said it is “deeply saddened by the demise of Mr Ifeanyi Richard Onumaegbu and the circumstances surrounding his death.”
In a statement by Director of Naval Information, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams–Aliu, the Navy said all the suspected personnel and the civilian lady involved in the altercation on 26 March 2024 in Navy Town Barracks have been “identified and are currently under close custody.”
Commodore Adams-Aliu also states that the body of the deceased have been transferred to “a reputable government hospital in Lagos based on the request of the family for an autopsy,” pledging that anybody found culpable in the death “would be prosecuted according to extant laws.”
According to the statement: “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 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.”
