The Nigerian Navy and the Lagos State Police Command have been trading blame over the delayed trial of the two naval ratings accused of killing an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Hezekiah Abiona, while on official duty in the state.

According to a statement the spokesperson for the Nigerian Navy, Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, claimed was obtained from the legal department of the Nigerian Navy, the delay in court-martialing the officers was because the Nigerian Police Force failed to provide the navy with an autopsy report as well as the case files over four months despite repeated requests.

However, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the Navy’s request came on the heels of a report filed by PUNCH Metro about the family members of the deceased cop who demanded justice over the events that claimed his life.

On December 3, 2023, two ratings, Nnamani Anointing and Onyekachi Egwin, allegedly stabbed Abiona following an altercation with the ratings in the Satellite Town area of the state.

Abiona, who sustained life-threatening injuries during the attack, died and the ratings were arrested.

Abiona’s son, Benjamin, said justice for his late father had been delayed as he demanded compensation from the naval authorities.

However, the statement from the legal team which Ayo-Vaughan shared with our correspondent, read in part, “The delay in initiating disciplinary proceedings against the ratings was purely by the civil police as they failed to furnish the NN with the case file and autopsy report despite repeated demands.

“It took the NP over four months to forward their report to the NN. On the status of the case, a general court-martial has been convened by the command, NNS Beecroft, to try the ratings for the offences of murder, fighting, quarrelling, disorderly behaviour and disobedience to standing orders.

“The court-martial has been set up but had to be amended. The amended copy was sent last week, and they are now ready to commence trial.”

The legal team also said the Nigerian Navy would not give the family any compensation.

“To pay any form of compensation will amount to an admission of guilt on the part of the NN. The ratings did not commit the alleged offence in the course of discharging their official duty so the NN cannot be held vicariously liable for the conduct of the ratings who were on a frolic of their own,” the statement said.

Responding to the claim by the Navy that the police repeatedly ignored demands for the case file, Hundeyin said the naval authorities never asked for the case files to enable them to take action on the rating.

He added, “They only did it last week Friday after they saw the PUNCH report on it. That was when they came to ask for the case file. That was when they made us know that they needed the case file to do what they needed to do and we gave it to them immediately.”

Speaking on the concerns of the slain cop’s family about his benefits, Hundeyin said it would definitely be paid.

“Their benefits will be paid but it takes time, they have filed all their papers and they have submitted the necessary documents and we have equally forwarded the same.

“These things are processed, they don’t come out individually. They pay per year. The paperwork has been done and once the payment is released from Abuja, they will definitely get it, there’s no doubt about that,” he said. (The PUNCH)

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