Organized labour in Delta State has suspended its industrial action over the death of a senior civil servant, Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda, directing workers to resume duty on Monday as police arrest one suspect and the state government begins an administrative investigation into the incident.
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, announced the resumption directive after meeting with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and following the constitution of an administrative panel to investigate the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death.
Delta NLC Chairman, Goodluck Ofobruku, said workers are expected to return to their duty posts by 8 a.m. on Monday, adding that security agencies are investigating the criminal aspect of the incident.
He said arrests had been made and that anyone found culpable would face prosecution in accordance with the law.
The latest development comes after the Delta State Police Command confirmed the arrest of Lucky Adoh, an aide to the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Kingsley Ashibogwu, in connection with the incident.
Police spokesperson, Bright Edafe, said two other aides, Enos Attah and Oputa Okestine, are being sought over allegations surrounding the reported assault on Adeda.
The Commissioner of Police, Samuel Erale, has directed the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department to conduct a thorough investigation, including examination of video recordings, eyewitness accounts and medical records.
The police said the actions of everyone connected with the incident would be examined before responsibility is determined, adding that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted regardless of status or position.
The state government has also constituted an eight-member Administrative Panel of Inquiry, chaired by the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Head of Service, Charity Ehimen.
The panel, which includes representatives of the NLC, TUC and Joint Negotiating Council, has two weeks to investigate the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death and make recommendations to the government.
The development follows a shutdown of the Delta State Secretariat by organized labour on Friday after Adeda died following an altercation at the Ministry of Secondary Education in Asaba.
Adeda, a Level 16 Deputy Director in the ministry, reportedly became involved in a confrontation at the office of the Commissioner for Secondary Education before he was taken for medical attention and later died.
The circumstances surrounding the confrontation remain under investigation, with conflicting accounts emerging over what happened.
Ashibogwu has denied ordering or participating in any assault on Adeda. He reportedly said he went to the scene after receiving a distress call that the deputy director was allegedly acting violently and threatening people.
He said Adeda attacked him during the encounter and maintained that he never instructed anyone to beat the deceased.
Police are yet to make a final determination on the allegations, while the administrative panel is expected to examine the workplace circumstances separately from the criminal investigation.
The government had earlier assured Adeda’s family that the matter would not be allowed to suffer a perversion of justice.
Secretary to the State Government, Kingsley Emu, gave the assurance on Saturday when he led senior government officials to the deceased’s family to express condolences.
Emu said the government was still awaiting the outcome of the police investigation but confirmed that an administrative panel had been established to examine the incident and strengthen conflict-resolution mechanisms within the civil service. He stressed that the administrative inquiry would not interfere with the police or judicial process.
Meanwhile, labour leaders have appealed to workers to remain calm and allow the investigations to proceed, while pledging to monitor the process.
The NLC said it would collaborate with the administrative panel to ensure that the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death are established and that anyone found responsible faces the law.
Daily Report
