The Nigerian Navy said it has begun investigation on how one of its civilian staff members, Ifeanyi Onumaegbu, died.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, announced this in Lagos on Thursday.

He explained that Mr Onumaegbu died at the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital Ojo, Lagos, where he worked.

He explained further that the deceased was a civilian employee of the Ministry of Defence attached to the Laboratory Department of the NNRH since 2009.

 Mr Ogalla said, “The navy is deeply saddened by the demise of Mr Ifeanyi Onumaegbu and the circumstances surrounding his death. On March 31, he was found lifeless in his office at NNRH. A preliminary investigation revealed that on March 26, the deceased was involved in an altercation with a civilian lady and some NN personnel in Navy Town Barracks.’’

Mr Ogalla said that suspected officials and the civilian lady involved in the previous altercation had been identified and “are currently under close custody.”

He also said that NN had facilitated the movement of the deceased’s body to a reputable government hospital in Lagos based on the request of the family for an autopsy.

“The NN further wishes to assure his family and the public that necessary measures are being taken to unravel the cause of his death. Any person found culpable would be prosecuted according to extant laws,” he said.

Recall that the Joint Executive Council of Ministry of Defence embarked on a peaceful mourning protest on April 8 against the death of Mr Onumaegbu

The protest was held across the civilian personnel units of the Ministry of Defence.

(NAN)