Alleged Fatal Assault: NLC declares strike in Delta

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…Commissioner denies ordering attack as police arrest suspect, govt orders probe

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By Egufe Yafugborhi & Ochuko Akuopha

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ASABA — Organised labour has declared a strike in Delta State over the controversial death of a civil servant, Mr Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda, following an altercation at the office of the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Dr Kingsley Ashibogwu.

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While the commissioner said the 54-year-old Deputy Director physically attacked him and denied ordering anyone to assault him, the deceased’s sister alleged that her brother was beaten, tied up and left seriously injured before he was taken to hospital, where he later died.

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The Police Command has since moved into the controversy, announcing the arrest of one suspect, Lucky Adoh, and a manhunt for other persons allegedly connected with the incident.

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The development also triggered an industrial dispute, with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) declaring a dispute with the Delta State Government and directing workers to withdraw their services.

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Ashibogwu, dismissing allegations that he assaulted Adeda, said: “Oh, I didn’t. Rather, the man even assaulted me, assaulted people in the office. There are video clips to it, where he was using his private vehicle to hit the staff vehicle.

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“Before I knew what was happening, it was attack on me, physical. Direct attack. My clothes are there. I never ordered any person to touch him, I never touched him.”

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He alleged that Adeda had threatened some workers before returning to confront him.

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However, Ovwigho, the deceased’s sister, gave a sharply different account, saying she met her brother tied inside a vehicle at the hospital after receiving a distress call that he had been badly beaten at his workplace.

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“I saw him tied up like a criminal. His entire body was filthy, blood was coming out of his mouth and nose, and his head was badly swollen,” she alleged.

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She said Adeda told her that he had been summoned by the commissioner and assaulted by men allegedly acting on the commissioner’s orders.

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“If you see pictures of him when they beat him up, you will be scared,” she said.

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NLC Chairman, Goodluck Ofobruku, said workers could no longer accept what he described as an unsafe workplace.

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“We’re declaring dispute with the Delta State Government. For that reason, we’re withdrawing our services with immediate effect.

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“Whoever is responsible for the beating of this worker that led to his untimely death must be brought to book before we can come back,” he said.

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The state Police Command, in a statement by its spokesman, SP Bright Edafe, said the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department would conduct a “thorough and impartial investigation” into the incident.

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According to the police, the investigation would include an examination of video footage, eyewitness accounts and medical records.

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The state government has also constituted an administrative panel, chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service, Mrs Charity Ehimen, to investigate the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death.

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The panel was given two weeks to complete its assignment.

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The government assured civil servants of the safety of their workplaces and reaffirmed its commitment to respecting the “dignity and sanctity of life.”

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