Police arrest Delta commissioner, four others over deputy director’s death

The police in Delta State have arrested the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Kingsley Ashibogwu, and four others over the death of Unity Adeda, a deputy director in the ministry.

The police also said they had launched a manhunt for two other persons described as key suspects in the investigation.

In a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday, the police spokesperson in the state, Bright Edafe, said Mr Adeda reportedly died after an incident at the commissioner’s office, with conflicting accounts emerging over what transpired before his death.

In its first statement on the matter, the police said it had arrested one of the persons named in allegations that Mr Adeda was physically assaulted by aides to the commissioner.

Mr Edafe, a superintendent of police, identified the suspect as Lucky Adoh.

The police also named two others, Enos Attah and Oputa Okestine, in connection with the allegations and said a manhunt had been launched for them.

But in the latest statement, the command said it had taken Mr Ashibogwu and three other suspects into custody, bringing to five the number of people currently held in connection with the investigation.

The police did not immediately provide the names of the other three persons taken into custody.

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.

The police said the presence of Mrs Ufuoma and Mr Apia was required to further the investigation and urged them to report to the police without delay.

Conflicting accounts

There are conflicting accounts around Mr Adeda’s death.

Vanguard Newspaper reported that workers in the Delta State Ministry of Secondary Education had demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to his death.

PUNCH reported that the Nigeria Labour Congress shut the state secretariat in Asaba on Friday as workers demanded an investigation and accountability over the incident.

Mr Ashibogwu has denied ordering or participating in any assault on Mr Adeda.

According to reports, Mr Ashibogwu said he responded to distress calls concerning Mr Adeda and alleged that the deceased had become violent before their encounter. He urged the public to allow investigators to establish what happened through available evidence.

PUNCH also reported that the education commissioner denied ordering or participating in any assault, saying his account should be tested against available evidence.

Meanwhile, the 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, Punch reported

The police, in their initial statement, said their investigation would examine available video footage, eyewitness accounts, medical records and the actions of everyone connected with the incident.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Samuel Erale, directed the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident.

Mr Erale said the investigation would establish the circumstances surrounding Mr Adeda’s death and determine whether anyone was culpable.

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Police assure family of justice

In the latest statement, Mr Erale urged Mrs Ufuoma and Mr Apia to make themselves available to the police.

“The commissioner of police reiterates that the investigation will be pursued thoroughly, impartially and professionally,” Mr Edafe said.

He added that due process would be followed and anyone found culpable would be brought to justice in accordance with the law.