The parents of a two-year-old boy, Ivan Omhonria, who was shot and killed by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have demanded N2 billion compensation from the agency.
This is just as the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions led by Mike Etaba has insisted that the chairman of NDLEA, Buba Marwa must appear before it on October 22, 2024.
The younger brother to late Ivan, Eromonsele, who was also shot in the eye by the NDLEA personnel, however, survived the incident, which occurred in Delta State. He was one year old then.
The father of the children, Fidelis Eromonsele made the demand on Wednesday before the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, which is investigating the matter. He appeared before the committee with his wife and the injured son.
He told the lawmakers that he was aggrieved that they were abandoned by the agency since the incident occurred over a year ago while the health of the surviving son has been deteriorating without adequate treatment.
He also denied that they had an agreement with the NDLEA for a N25 million compensation.
While testifying before the committee, the lawyer to the NDLEA, Muniat Adeleye, disclosed that they had agreed on the sum of N25 million and N5 million had been sent to the family as the initial payment explaining that it was to be paid in five tranches over five months.
She expressed surprise over the petition saying the agency did not expect it as the matter had been resolved.
But when asked for the agreement by the committee, Adeleye, who is the Assistant Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, said it had not been signed.
The father of the boys denied such agreement, saying the chairman of the agency, Marwa had sometime after the incident sent him N5 million on a personal note. He said, “I was shocked to hear her mention an agreement just now. I’m not a party to any agreement. Yes, actually within the period that this either took place, the NDLEA chairman called me and he told me he’s very sorry for this incident that happened on the 13th of July 2023 and that he’s not in the country. But on his own personal commitment to me that he’s sending the token to me.
“He didn’t mention any amount to me. He said he would send me some money to be taking care of my son. Two weeks later, we left the Eye Foundation in Lagos. Then I received five million in my wife’s account that I sent to him. That’s all. And so where did the agreement for 25 million came in?”
His lawyer said, “We wrote them, demanded the sum of two billion as compensation. They never bothered to even respond to that demand. They ignored it with so much arrogance. Before this house, we want adequate compensation. A life was lost, cut short. Another destiny is someone’s being damaged because of the eye.
“He was just one year old when this incident happened. From then until now, they’ve been dealing with that. They are not prepared to do anything to even remedy the physical damage done to this infant boy. It’s like they are playing games and gimmicks to dodge responsibility. We want this house to compel the NDLEA to be responsive and responsible enough as a corporate agency to do what is obtainable on the best international standard practice.”
While summoning Marwa, the committee chairman, Mike Etaba told the NDLEA representatives that, “I hope you appreciate the gravity of what we are saying. And so long as the house is concerned, Nigerians are interested about this matter. The whole world is watching us.
“The next day this matter is going to be adjourned, the principal officer, which is your head, has to be in this committee. This matter is too serious for anybody to represent him. We also understand that you are a lawyer, and you have a right to represent your organisation. But the point we find ourselves, and the kind of life-threatening events that we find ourselves, we want the NDLEA head and boss to appear in person and explain to Nigerians.
“Since this incident took place, the steps he has taken to make sure that this family recovers from the trauma. And as we speak, you can see the child with one eye.
Look at that child with one eye, and you are a mother. All of us are fathers. Nobody would be alive to see his or her child with this kind of condition.
“The monies that have been sent to him was just a help, a token to make sure that he carries on with the little medication he needed to do. So let us not sit here and tell us and tell Nigerians that there was an agreement for NDLEA to pay this family 25 million. Nobody should hear it. It shouldn’t be heard anywhere.”
