The Nigerian Navy, on Tuesday, said the errant ratings involved in the alleged killing of an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Hezekiah Abiona, in the Satellite Town area of Lagos State, would soon be court-martialed.
This development came after the slain cop’s son, Benjamin, and wife, Esther, accused the naval authorities of feigning ignorance of their anguish after the ratings, Onyekachi Egwin and Nnamani Anointing, allegedly stabbed their breadwinner to death in the line of duty.
They also said the investigation into the case was going at snail’s speed, arousing suspicion that the naval authorities were trying to sweep the case under the carpet.
However, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Navy, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, while reacting to a story published by PUNCH Metro on the traumatising ordeals of Abiona’s aggrieved family members, promised to do the needful.
He said, “There is obviously a push from the family of the deceased to understand why those respects, courtesies, visits were not done as well as identifying with them at the time of burial. Somebody did not do his job somewhere and I speak for the organisation.
“I am presently talking with the person that is responsible for that area of responsibility and that’s just what I can say for now. Somebody failed in doing his job because they felt that the ratings have been detained and arrested and locked up and now, they are going to be court-martialed.
“Somewhere along the line, perhaps liaison with the Nigerian police so as to show remorse and respect and sympathy for the loss was not done so it is an omission on the part of the authorities responsible for those men in Lagos but that would be corrected.”