Despite assurances by the Delta State government and police command during their condolence visits to the family of late Mr Unity Adeda, a Level 16 civil servant in the Ministry of Secondary Education, who reportedly died following an altercation at his workplace, that justice would not be perverted, the family of the deceased has rejected the condolence visits.
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu, gave the assurance when he led a delegation of senior government officials to the deceased’s family on Saturday to commiserate with them over the incident.
The delegation included the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Johnson Erijo; Permanent Secretary, SSG’s Office, Mr Lucky Nkemachor; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Community Development, Mrs Kevwe Agas; Executive Secretary, State Pensions Bureau, Mr Lawson Efenudu, among others.
Emu said the state government was deeply concerned about the incident, stressing that every life mattered to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration.
He said the government was in mourning with the family, the civil service and the entire state, noting that the deceased was a senior public servant who had contributed to the state’s public service.
“The entire state is in a mourning mood, not just the family. He was a very senior officer, but whether he was a senior or junior officer, every life means a lot to the state and the government,” he said.
According to him, the government was yet to establish the full circumstances surrounding the death because the police investigation was still ongoing.
He, however, said preliminary accounts indicated that an internal altercation at the workplace had escalated, leading to the unfortunate incident.
Emu said Governor Oborevwori had immediately directed the Commissioner of Police to ensure that the matter was thoroughly investigated, adding that some persons connected with the incident had already made statements to the police.
He said the government had also constituted an administrative panel, made up entirely of serving and retired civil servants, to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and strengthen internal conflict-resolution mechanisms within the public service.
“The essence of the administrative panel is not to conflict with the judicial process or the police investigation. It is to help us rebuild our system and enrich our conflict-management process,” he said.
The SSG explained that workplace conflicts were inevitable but must be managed through appropriate institutional mechanisms before they are escalated.
Emu disclosed that the government had met with labour leaders on Thursday following the incident and assured them that the workplace remained safe for civil servants.
He said, “We met with Labour yesterday and what Labour wanted was reassurance that there would be justice. Labour, as well as ourselves, agreed that the administrative panel must be set up and the police must do their job.
“All of these things have been done. The entire justice process has started, and we are convinced that having seen the sincerity and transparency of government, labour will do the needful,” he said.
Emu also appealed to civil servants to remain calm and continue with their duties, assuring them that the government was committed to protecting lives and ensuring a peaceful working environment.
“We are here to establish government concern, register the government’s sincere condolences and tell you (family) that we are with you. There will be no perversion of justice as far as this case is concerned,” he said.
He urged the family to take solace in the life the deceased lived and the impact she made during her years of service, while assuring them that the government would continue to stand by them.
Responding on behalf of the family, Mr Godwin Akamakusi, the deceased’s in-law, appealed to the government to ensure that the circumstances surrounding the death were fully investigated and that justice was served.
Again, the family lamented that the Chief prime suspect, Dr Kingsley Ashibogwu (An agent of the government) and other suspects have not been brought to book.
“The commissioner who acted as an agent of government to murder our son is still under the protection of Delta state, and making it impossible for him to answer for the crime. The state government should make a public statement on this before any contact with the family.
“The family does not have confidence on the administrative panel of inquiry, since it consists of only civil servants (no family members, no civil organization or human right activist involved in the panel)
Meanwhile, the Delta State Police Command has arrested one of the suspects, Lucky Adoh, while serious manhunt for other fleeing suspects is ongoing.
Similarly, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel Erale, said the Command has also taken note of allegations suggesting that the deceased was physically assaulted by aides to the Commissioner identified as Enos Attah, Oputa Okestine, and Lucky Adoh.
He has consequently ordered the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department to carry out thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident and the subsequent death of the deceased.
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