Senate Summons NDLEA over ₦200m Compensation, Urgent Treatment for Injured Child Onosereba Ivan
……. Lawmakers Decry Agency’s Disregard for Senate Resolution in Two-Year-Old’s Death Case
By Fatima Saka, Abuja
The Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance has summoned the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to appear before the Senate on October 28, over the alleged killing of a two-year-old child, Omhonria O. Onosereba Ivan, and the severe injury of his sibling during an NDLEA operation.
The Committee, chaired by Senator Garba Musa Maidoki (Kebbi South), expressed outrage over the NDLEA’s failure to comply with the Senate’s earlier directive mandating the payment of ₦200 million compensation to the bereaved family and the immediate sponsorship of the surviving child’s medical treatment abroad.
Experts have reportedly confirmed that the required eye surgery for the injured child cannot be performed in Nigeria, heightening the urgency of the intervention.
In an emotional session with the grieving family on Thursday, Senator Maidoki extended the Senate’s condolences and condemned what he described as the NDLEA’s “pattern of disregard for accountability and human life.”
“We sincerely feel your pain and are committed to ensuring justice. It is unfortunate that despite the Senate’s clear resolution, the NDLEA has neither acknowledged your correspondence nor taken any concrete action to save the life of the surviving child,” Maidoki stated.
The family’s lawyer lamented that the NDLEA had failed to respond or make any medical arrangements despite repeated appeals and the child’s deteriorating health condition.
Senator Maidoki warned that the Senate would not hesitate to invoke legal sanctions if the NDLEA failed to comply with the summons or previous resolutions.
“NDLEA is a creation of the law, and so is the Senate. The law will take its course if the agency continues to ignore its responsibilities. Nobody is above the law,” he warned.
The Committee further resolved to brief Senate President Godswill Akpabio to facilitate presidential intervention, describing the incident as “a stain on the conscience of the nation.”
Lawmakers also condemned the excessive use of force by security agencies during operations and called for a comprehensive audit of NDLEA’s operational procedures to prevent future tragedies.
The family expressed gratitude to the Senate for its pursuit of justice, urging lawmakers to enforce their resolutions “without fear or favor.”
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“The NDLEA has shown unwillingness to comply. It is time for the Senate to enforce its resolutions so that justice is not delayed any further,” the family’s representative said.
The Senate’s follow-up meeting with the NDLEA on October 28 is expected to determine the agency’s level of compliance and the next line of action.
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