In a powerful display of legislative resolve, the Nigerian Senate has ruled firmly on two emotional and high-stakes petitions — one involving the tragic killing of a two-year-old in Delta State by NDLEA officers, and the other, the dismissal of a longtime WAEC staff over a scandalous exam malpractice ring.
A tragic case from July 13, 2023, took centre stage on the Senate floor on Thursday, as lawmakers called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to approve ₦200 million in compensation for the Omhonria family, whose two-year-old son, Onosereba, was killed by a stray NDLEA bullet during a drug raid at Abacha Junction, Okpanam, in Delta State.
The Senate’s resolution followed the adoption of a report by the Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, led by Senator Neda Imasuen. The report confirmed that NDLEA officers fired the bullet that killed the toddler and critically injured his baby brother, Eromonsele, whose eyesight now hangs in the balance.
Although NDLEA has offered ₦25 million and continues to support local medical treatment, Imasuen described the sum as grossly insufficient. “This is not just about money,” he said. “It’s about dignity, compassion, and justice. ₦200 million is a fairer reflection of the pain this family has suffered.”
The Senate also directed NDLEA to continue funding Eromonsele’s treatment, including potential overseas surgery, and mandated its Compliance Committee to track implementation within six weeks.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole condemned the killing, warning, “No amount of money can bring back a child. But we must make it clear: the uniform does not give you the right to go out and kill someone else’s child.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio added, “Our hearts are with the family. This Senate stands for life and accountability.”
In a separate but equally significant ruling, the Senate backed the dismissal of Ms. Sandra Nimi Harry, a WAEC staffer with 31 years of service, over her alleged role in a shameful exam malpractice scandal.
Harry, who headed the Scripts Room in WAEC’s Port Harcourt office, was found guilty of aiding fellow staffers in swapping exam answer sheets for absentee candidates. The manipulation came to light during a private candidates’ examination in 2023.
Though the Senate’s Ethics Committee initially recommended clemency — suggesting her dismissal be converted to retirement due to her clean record before the incident — the Senate roundly rejected the proposal.
Senator Garba Maidoki declared, “This is not just misconduct — it’s a betrayal of every hardworking Nigerian student. There must be consequences.”
Senator Oshiomhole added that her actions amounted to an “atrocity” and urged prosecution.
Senate President Akpabio closed the debate firmly: “Let this be a warning — you don’t spend 30 years serving only to sabotage your institution at the finish line. There is no glory in ending a career with disgrace.”
Addressing both petitions, Senator Neda Imasuen said the Senate’s decisions speak to the moral duty of leadership.
“Whether it’s a child unjustly killed or an institution betrayed by its own, we must act with courage and conscience,” he said. “This is the Senate standing for the voiceless.”
