The Nigerian Bar Association, Asaba Branch, has called for a diligent and independent criminal investigation into the death of Mr. Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda, a Deputy Director in the Delta State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, who is reported to have died on Friday, 25 September 2026 following an incident at his workplace.
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In a statement signed by its Chairman, Mr. Richard Ogbolu Okonyia, the branch said it received the report of the death “with profound shock and deep concern,” noting that “reports indicate that the deceased allegedly sustained injuries from an assault within the premises of a government office and subsequently died from the injuries sustained.”
“Sections 33 And 34”
“The NBA Asaba Branch unequivocally reaffirms that the right to life and the right to the dignity of the human person are fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended),” the statement said. “In particular, Sections 33 and 34 of the Constitution guarantee the right to life and the right to dignity of the human person, respectively.”
While acknowledging that the state government has constituted an Administrative Panel of Inquiry, the branch urged “that the process be thorough, transparent, and impartial.”
“We equally call on the Nigeria Police Force to conduct a diligent and independent criminal investigation, identify all persons whose acts or omissions may have contributed to the incident, preserve all material evidence, and where sufficient evidence exists, ensure that suspects are brought before a competent court of law,” it said.
The branch further urged the government “to take proactive steps to guarantee the safety and security of all workers within government offices and workplaces,” and extended its condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased.
The death followed what has been reported as a physical confrontation at the deceased’s workplace.
According to a report by SaharaReporters, the deceased was allegedly beaten during a confrontation involving the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Dr. Kingsley Ashibogwu, his police orderly and his driver, and was left in a coma before being taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, where he later died.
Sources who spoke to that publication alleged that the confrontation began after the commissioner asked the deceased whether he knew him, that the deceased replied that he did not, and that the commissioner thereafter ordered his orderly and driver to assault him.
Those allegations have not been tested, no charge has been reported, and no finding has been made against any person.
The Police Steps
The Delta State Police Command confirmed the arrest of one suspect, Mr. Lucky Adoh, and declared two others, Mr. Enos Attah and Mr. Oputa Okestine, wanted in connection with the alleged assault.
On Monday the command announced that the Commissioner for Secondary Education and three other suspects had been taken into custody, bringing the number of persons in custody to five. It also launched a search for Mrs. Clemetine Ufuoma, Director of Basic and Secondary Education, and Mr. Clement Apia, driver to the commissioner.
The Administrative Panel
The Delta State Government constituted an eight-member Administrative Panel of Inquiry, chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service, Mrs. Charity Ehimen, to investigate the circumstances of the death. The panel has two weeks to complete its assignment and includes representatives of organised labour.
The APBN Statement
The Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, Delta State Chapter, in a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its Chairman, ESV (Rev.) Lewis Afolabi, and its Secretary, RSV Enebeli Emmanuel O., expressed deep concern over the circumstances of the death, saying it was particularly troubled by the conflicting accounts surrounding the incident.
The association described the inclusion of organised labour on the panel as “a necessary step towards calming frayed nerves and restoring confidence among workers,” but said the panel as presently constituted does not include independent medical and occupational safety professionals whose expertise could be critical to examining the medical, occupational health and safety dimensions of the incident.
It called for the inclusion of appropriate independent professionals from its member bodies, particularly the Nigerian Medical Association and the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria.
“The involvement of independent medical and safety professionals would help ensure that relevant medical records, occupational-safety procedures, workplace conditions and other technical issues are properly examined, thereby strengthening public confidence in the process,” it said, adding that it was prepared to nominate suitable professionals.
“No Individual Is Above The Law”
The association called on the Governor, Mr. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, as Chief Executive and Chief Security Officer of the state, to strengthen measures aimed at preventing violent incidents within government circles and to ensure that no individual, irrespective of position or status, is above the law.
It warned that incidents involving senior public officials, political office holders or persons attached to them could undermine public confidence in government and affect the investment climate.
“Delta State has made considerable efforts to attract investors and position itself as a destination for economic activities. As professionals and stakeholders in the state’s economy, we are directly affected by anything capable of undermining the confidence of investors or creating an atmosphere of insecurity, intimidation or uncertainty,” it said.
“Government must therefore ensure that the exercise of public authority is consistently guided by civility, accountability, due process and respect for the dignity of every worker.”
The association called for stronger institutional guarantees for the protection and safety of civil servants in the discharge of their legitimate responsibilities, noting that its members include engineers, architects, town planners, surveyors, accountants, pharmacists, medical and dental practitioners, medical laboratory scientists, public relations practitioners, tax practitioners, environmental health professionals, information technology professionals and safety professionals.
“These professionals and other public servants require a work environment where they can carry out their responsibilities without fear of intimidation, harassment or violence,” it said.
It called on the Head of Service, together with the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, urgently to consider a comprehensive reorientation programme for top civil servants and political office holders, with emphasis on the Civil Service Rules, official channels of communication, workplace ethics, conflict resolution, respect for hierarchy, and the appropriate relationship between political office holders and career civil servants.
While commiserating with the family, colleagues and the state civil service, the association called for restraint and caution in public discussion of the incident until the police investigation and the panel establish the facts, and said it expects the investigation to proceed without interference and any person found culpable, regardless of position or status, to be dealt with according to law.
The death of the officer, who held a Level 16 appointment, provoked widespread anger in the state. The Nigeria Labour Congress declared an indefinite strike and workers shut down the Professor Chike Odozien Secretariat in Asaba in protest.
The strike was later suspended after the government constituted the panel of inquiry and gave assurances about the safety of workers. The family of the deceased, however, has rejected the panel, expressing a lack of confidence in its composition, which they said consisted only of civil servants.
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