Senate Slams NDLEA with ₦200m Compensation Over Child’s Death In Botched Raid

In a powerful show of legislative will, the Nigerian Senate has delivered decisive rulings on two emotionally charged petitions—one involving the tragic death of a two-year-old boy in Delta State during an NDLEA operation, and the other concerning the dismissal of a long-serving WAEC official entangled in an exam malpractice scandal.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to NIVONEWS, the Senate on Thursday urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to authorize a ₦200 million compensation for the Omhonria family, whose son, Onosereba, was fatally struck by a stray bullet during a drug raid at Abacha Junction, Okpanam, on July 13, 2023. The boy’s younger brother, Eromonsele, also sustained life-altering injuries that now threaten his vision.

The decision followed the Senate’s adoption of a report by the Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen. The report concluded that NDLEA operatives fired the bullet that killed the toddler, a finding that triggered outrage among lawmakers.

Although the NDLEA had initially offered ₦25 million and provided support for medical care, Imasuen insisted the amount was inadequate. “This is about justice, not just money,” he said. “₦200 million better reflects the loss and trauma suffered by this family.”

The Senate also directed the NDLEA to continue financing Eromonsele’s treatment, including possible surgery abroad, and tasked its Compliance Committee with ensuring the resolution is implemented within six weeks.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, speaking passionately, declared, “No uniform confers the right to kill. A child’s life was stolen, and someone must answer for it.” Senate President Godswill Akpabio echoed the sentiment, saying, “We stand for accountability. We mourn with the family and demand justice.”

In a separate development, the Senate also endorsed the dismissal of Ms. Sandra Nimi Harry, a WAEC official with 31 years of service, who was found guilty of aiding examination malpractice during a 2023 private candidate exam. According to NIVONEWS, Ms. Harry, who headed the Scripts Room at WAEC’s Port Harcourt office, collaborated with colleagues to illegally swap answer sheets for absentee candidates—an act described by lawmakers as a “deliberate sabotage of the education system.”

While the Senate’s Ethics Committee had initially recommended that her dismissal be converted to retirement due to her previously unblemished record, the upper chamber firmly rejected the suggestion.

“This was not a lapse in judgment; it was a betrayal of Nigeria’s youth,” said Senator Garba Maidoki. Senator Oshiomhole went further, branding the misconduct an “educational atrocity” and calling for her prosecution.

Senate President Akpabio stated clearly, “You don’t destroy your legacy at the finish line and expect a soft landing. This sends a message: decades of service do not excuse criminal behavior.”

According to NIVONEWS, Senator Imasuen, addressing both cases, described the Senate’s decisions as a reflection of its commitment to conscience, justice, and the rule of law. “Whether it’s a grieving family or a failed institution, we must always stand with the voiceless,” he said.

”NIVONEWS REPORTS”