CDHR Demands Suspension of Delta Commissioner Over Deputy Director’s Death

By Ezekiel Kagbala

ASABA, Delta State — The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Delta State Branch, has demanded the immediate suspension of the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Dr Kingsley Ashibogwu, following the death of a deputy director in the ministry, Mr Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda, after an alleged assault at the state secretariat in Asaba.

The rights group, in a statement issued on Saturday, said Ashibogwu should step aside pending an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death, insisting that the case had gone beyond an internal administrative matter.

The rights group said the demand was necessary to guarantee an impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death on Thursday.

According to the organisation, the matter has moved beyond an internal administrative dispute and should be treated as a matter of public interest and potential criminal liability, particularly because a public servant allegedly died after an altercation within a government facility.

CDHR said; "The three facts before us are deeply disturbing, that there was an altercation between the Commissioner and a Deputy Director.

 That the Commissioner allegedly deployed personal enforcers/thugs who tied up, beat, and unlawfully detained the Deputy Director.

That upon release, the officer was rushed to the hospital and was confirmed dead.

Deltans, if this is true, then we are witnessing state-sponsored thuggery at the highest level.

We recall that not long ago, another Commissioner was suspended, arrested and remanded for engaging in street rascality. Today, another Commissioner, a PhD holder, is alleged to have used thugs to kíłł a civil servant

"A life has been lost. No title, no office, no PhD exempts anyone from the law. Personal enforcers/thugs have no place in government while every Commissioners must also realize that they are public servant, not a warlord. The issue at hand is a criminal matter and cannot be treated as an internal disciplinary issue.

"Nigerians deserve a government of laws, not thugs. Civil servants deserve to work without fear of being beaten to death. We deserve a judicial system we can trust. If we allow this to slide, tomorrow it will be you, it will be me".

FocalPoint Reports gathered that the Delta State Police Command has arrested one suspect, identified as Lucky Adoh, in connection with the incident, while two other suspects, Enos Attah and Oputa Okestine, are reportedly being sought.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale, has directed the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and the death of Adeda.

Against this backdrop, CDHR demanded that any person found culpable, irrespective of political position, official status or personal relationship, should be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The rights group therefore appealed to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to act swiftly by suspending the commissioner pending the outcome of the investigation, arguing that such a step would help protect the integrity of the process and prevent any potential interference with witnesses or evidence.

The controversy has already triggered industrial tension in the state, with workers under the Nigeria Labour Congress shutting down the Delta State Secretariat in Asaba and demanding an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Ashibogwu has denied ordering or participating in any assault on the deceased. He reportedly said he was called to the ministry following a distress call concerning Adeda and maintained that he did not order anyone to beat him.

With one suspect in police custody and two others reportedly being pursued, the focus is now on the investigation and whether the evidence will establish criminal responsibility for the death of the deputy director.

For CDHR, however, the central issue is not the status of any individual involved but the protection of life, accountability in public institutions and equal application of the law.

The organisation urged the state government and security agencies to ensure that the investigation is transparent, independent and capable of withstanding public scrutiny.

“Justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done,” CDHR said.