Naval chief orders probe as civilian employee dies after ‘altercation with personnel’

Emmanuel Ogalla, chief of naval staff, has ordered a probe into the death of Ifeanyi Onumaegbu, a civilian employee who was found lifeless in his office at the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital (NNRH).

Onumaegbu was an employee of the ministry of defence, and had been attached to the NNRH in Ojo, Lagos since 2009.

NAN quoted Ogalla as saying that Onumaegbu was found dead on March 31.

“The navy is deeply saddened by the demise of Mr Ifeanyi Onumaegbu and the circumstances surrounding his death,” Ogalla said.

“On March 31, 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 naval chief said the civilian employee and the navy personnel have been identified and put in custody, adding that the corpse has been taken to a government hospital for autopsy.

“The NN further wishes to assure his family and the public that all necessary measures are being taken to unravel the cause of his death,” he said.

“Any person found culpable would be prosecuted according to extant laws.”

On April 8, the joint executive council of the ministry of defence embarked on a peaceful demonstration to mourn Onumaegbu.