* Ethics Committee rejects agency’s N25m offer, urges Presidency to intervene

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja 

In a sobering resolution that cast a spotlight on both bureaucratic accountability and the human cost of institutional failure, Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, has revealed the Senate’s resolution on two major petitions

One involving the termination of a longtime WAEC employee, and the other concerning the tragic death of a two-year-old boy shot by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Delta State.

Addressing members of the press after a full Senate session, Senator Imasuen spoke candidly about the emotional weight of the petitions, particularly the one involving the NDLEA, which he described as “very, very personal” due to its devastating impact on a young family.

According to the senator, the NDLEA did not deny culpability in the death of the child, nor the injury sustained by the deceased boy’s sibling, who now faces potential blindness and the prospect of multiple surgeries. 

The agency had initially offered N25 million in compensation—a sum the Senate committee flatly rejected.

Imasuen said: “In clear conscience, we could not accept what they were offering. 

“We told them to return with something more reasonable. Something befitting of what it means to lose a child and face the trauma of a second child potentially going blind. But they came back with the same N25 million.”

Moved by the gravity of the situation, the Ethics Committee recommended N200 million in compensation to the bereaved family, along with a full assumption of medical expenses for the surviving child by the NDLEA. 

The Senate adopted the recommendation but acknowledged the constitutional limitations of enforcement without executive backing.

Imasuen said: “Our Order 40, Sub 6, does not empower us to impose sanctions directly. We can only recommend and appeal. 

“That is why we are calling on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, himself a father and grandfather, to intervene and ensure that this family receives justice.”

He stressed that no amount of money could restore the life lost or undo the trauma inflicted, but that “adequate restitution” must be made to ease the pain and offer a modicum of justice.

In the second case brought before the Senate, a 31-year veteran of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) was dismissed over her role in a security breach involving unauthorized access to an examination room. 

The employee, who was the custodian of the key to the secure room, admitted to handing it over in her absence, leading to an incident that compromised exam integrity.

The Senate Committee found her complicit after multiple levels of investigation, citing not only her failure to follow protocol but also testimony that she had authorized the action.

Imasuen explained: “We wanted to apply a human face. After 31 years of unblemished service, we recommended that she be allowed to resign honorably instead of being dismissed. 

“But the full Senate overruled us due to the gravity of the offence and the possible ripple effects on the integrity of our examination system.”

He noted that the Senate’s decision was driven by the larger implications of such a breach, particularly its impact on other staff and on students who invest significant effort into preparing for standardized exams.

Imasuen closed the session with a plea for empathy and action.

According to him, “As a parent, I cannot imagine the pain of burying a two-year-old child shot in the supposed safety of his home, nor watching another child potentially go blind. And as a legislator, I cannot ignore the role institutions must play in preserving justice.”

He reiterated that the Compliance Committee of the Senate would take up the matter further and work with the Executive to ensure that the family receives the N200 million compensation and necessary medical support.

In a political landscape often riddled with bureaucracy and red tape, the Senate Committee’s bold recommendations, though non-binding, mark a significant moment of moral clarity. 

Whether or not the president heeds the Senate’s appeal will be a litmus test for the country’s commitment to justice, accountability and humanity.

​