of
ASP Emmanuel Mbilla was to retire in 2018 after which he would set
up his own private security firm.
However, Emmanuel's dream was cut short on February 22, 2014 after a
life-changing encounter with a naval rating, Warrant officer Unaji
Enejor, in the Kirikiri area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metrolearnt that the 50-year-old victim was attacked in the eye
by the naval rating, causing him to lose his sight completely.
It was learnt that prior to the attack, Emmanuel's left eye had
already been damaged by Glaucoma.
The victim's landlady, Mrs. Olasumbo Agunbiade, who witnessed the
incident, told our correspondent that trouble started after Enejor
drove recklessly and rammed into Emmanuel's wife's shop.
She said, "I am the landlady of the property at 25, Agunbiade Street,
Kirikiri Town, Apapa. Emmanuel's wife, Caroline, sells drinks right in
front of the house. Around 3.30pm on February 22, Emmanuel and his
wife were seated in front of the shop when a man in a red Honda car
rammed into their shop.
"When Emmanuel accosted the driver, the man alighted from the vehicle
and identified himself as a navy man and Emmanuel in turn, identified
himself as a police officer. The man wanted to leave but Emmanuel told
him that he could not leave without at least apologising and the navy
man just used his car key to poke Emmanuel in the eye.
"Emmanuel fell to the floor and started screaming, 'I have lost my
sight'. When the navy man saw the severity of the injury he had
inflicted on Emmanuel, he jumped into his car and sped off. However,
as residents were chasing him, he drove into a gutter and we arrested
him."
Our correspondent learnt that as residents were attempting to take
Enejor to the Kirikiri Police Station, two of his colleagues on a
motorcycle, arrived the scene and started beating the residents in a
bid to rescue their colleague.
It was learnt that a few minutes later, the crowd was able to
overwhelm the navy men and the suspect was taken to the Kirikiri
Police Division but was later released.However, there was no respite
for Emmanuel who was taken to about four hospitals where he was told
that he may never see again.
A medical report issued by the Eye Foundation Hospital and signed by
Dr. Olufemi Oderinlo, the Consultant Opthalmic surgeon/Vitereoretinal
specialist on March 3, stated that the victim would need to be flown
abroad for treatment for any hope of regaining his sight.
The report read in part, "At his (Emmanuel's) first visit, visual
acuity in the right eye was light perception with poor projection and
no perception of light in the left eye. Examination of the ocular
adnexae revealed severe lid oedema, moderate ptosis, severe
sub-conjuctiva haemorrhage and chemosis with sustured multiple scleral
lacerations.
"Anterior segment examination revealed a deep anterior chamber found
with air, sutured cornea laceration and hyphema in the right eye.
"The prognosis for vision following retina attachment surgery was
adjudged very poor and he was advised accordingly. He desires to seek
a second opinion abroad."
The victim's older wife, Patience, toldPUNCH Metrothat life had been
hard since her husband went blind.
Patience said her husband, who is attached to the State Criminal
Investigation Department, Yaba, required 24-hour monitoring and this
had affected the family.
She called on well-meaning Nigerians and the government to come to their aid.
She said, "I am asking Nigerians, the government, and especially that
of Abia State to come to our aid. We are asking Senator Uche
Chukwumerije, who represents Abia-North, to help us. We have been
seriously affected and we have spent so much on my husband's
treatment. Also, we are demanding for justice for my husband.
"The Commissioner of Police is aware of the matter. Nobody is above
the law. My husband did not fight the navy man but is now completely
blind as a result of a savage and brutal yet unprovoked attack.
Unfortunately, he was released while my husband was still in the
hospital."
PUNCH Metrolearnt that the assailant, who works at the Obisesan Naval
Medical Centre as a radiographer, was released following a request
letter signed by Captain J.N. Manman for the Beecroft Naval Base,
Apapa.
In a request letter dated February 26, the navy requested that the
errant rating be released as the matter was an "internal affair".
Meanwhile, our correspondent learnt that the police had concluded
investigations into the matter and sent the case file to the
Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
The DPP, in its report, stated that Enejor, with number M4351, had a
case to answer. However, the naval authorities have yet to hand him
over to the police.
When contacted, the Information Officer, Western Naval Command, Lt.
Commander, Abdulsalam Sani, said investigations into the matter had
commenced.
He said, "A report was made by the Nigeria Police in February and a
board of inquiry was set up to make its findings on the matter and the
culpability of the person. If the person is culpable, he will be tried
and an appropriate punishment will be given to him."
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