By Aaron Ossai
The parents of a two-year-old boy, Ivan Omhonria, who was shot and killed and his younger brother, Eromonsele, who was shot in the eye by men of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, have demanded N2billion compensation from the Agency.
They made the claim when they appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions on Wednesday.
It would be recalled that the incident occured in Delta State last year and the younger surviving boy was one year old at the time.
The father of the children, Fidelis, was aggrieved that they were abandoned by the Agency since the incident occurred over a year ago explaining that the health of the surviving son has been deteriorating without adequate treatment.
The family had petitioned the NDLEA to the House and the first hearing of the matter came up on Wednesday.
The parents also denied that they had an agreement with the NDLEA for N25million compensation.
At the hearing, the lawyer of the NDLEA, Muniat Adeleye, told the committee that they had agreed on the sum and N5 million had been sent to the family as the initial payment.
She said 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.
She said the agreement was entered with both parents on board.
However 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.
This was unacceptable by the Committee, who demanded that the NDLEA Chairman, Brig Gen Buba Marwa (rtd) must appear before the Committee at its next hearing on the matter.
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 the Agency did not take responsibility to recompense the family and that the surviving sibling is under serious threat.
He said they sought redress from the House to serve justice on the matter.
He said, “I was shocked to hear how to 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 take 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 come in?”
Chairman of the Committee, Mike Etaba, said, “I hope you appreciate the gravity of what we are saying. And so long as the House is concerned, Nigerians are interested in this matter. The whole world is watching us.”