The Delta State Government has set up an eight-member Administrative Panel of Inquiry to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Adeda Ekwevugbe, a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. The panel was constituted amid a protest by civil servants at the state secretariat and a subsequent closed-door meeting between government officials and labour leaders over the circumstances of Ekwevugbe’s death and concerns about workplace safety.
The panel, constituted in consultation with organised labour, has two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its findings to enable the government take appropriate action within the law. The development followed growing concerns among civil servants and organised labour over the circumstances surrounding Ekwevugbe’s death, as well as demands for an investigation into what occurred at the Ministry of Secondary Education.
The panel is chaired by Mrs Charity Ehimen, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service. Its other members are Mr Mamuzo Erebe, SAN, Solicitor General/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice; Mr Lucky Nkemachor, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Secretary to the State Government; Sir A.E. Oghoro, Executive Assistant to the Governor, Public Service; NLC Chairman in Delta, Comrade Goodluck Ofobruku; Chairman, Joint Negotiating Council, Comrade Benson Efeotor; and Chairman, Trade Union Congress, Comrade Wilson Asekutu.
In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Kingsley Eze Emu, the government said the panel would “unearth the circumstances surrounding the death” and enable it address all issues arising from the incident within the scope of the law. The constitution of the panel followed a closed-door meeting between the state government and organised labour on Friday evening over Ekwevugbe’s death.
The meeting was led by Emu on the government side, with the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Commissioner for Finance, Commissioner for Youth Development and other senior officials in attendance. Labour was represented by Ofobruku, Efeotor and Comrade Dennis Chuks Isichei, Secretary of the Joint Negotiating Council. The discussions centred on the events preceding Ekwevugbe’s death and concerns over the safety of civil servants in government workplaces.
Meanwhile, the State Police Command has arrested Lucky Adoh, an aide to the Commissioner for Secondary Education, in connection with the incident and commenced a detailed investigation. The command said it was also searching for Enos Attah and Oputa Okestine, who it identified as two other persons allegedly connected with the incident. Police said they were aware of allegations that Ekwevugbe was assaulted during a confrontation involving the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Dr Kingsley Ashibogwu.
Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale, has directed the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation. The Command said investigators would examine video footage, eyewitness accounts, medical records and the actions of everyone connected with the incident.
Key points
- The Delta State Government has set up an 8-member panel to investigate the death of Deputy Director Adeda Ekwevugbe.
- The panel was constituted amid a protest by civil servants at the state secretariat and a subsequent closed-door meeting between government officials and labour leaders.
- The police have arrested one suspect and are searching for two others in connection with the incident.
