A popular hotel in Umuahia, Abia State capital, Hotel Royal Damgrete has offered an explanation on how the military allegedly killed its F&B Manager, Mr. James Etubi.
ABN TV had reported that an Air Force tarmac four Cadet identified as Emmanuel Chidiebere Onyeomereneche with registration number NDA 13257 has lost his life in Hotel Royal Damgrete, months to graduation from National Defence Academy where he is a student.
He died on Tuesday in the swimming pool of Damgrete Hotel under controversial circumstances.
ALSO READ: Air Force Cadet Dies In Popular Abia Hotel Swimming Pool Months To Graduation (Photo)
One account has it that he had intentionally dived into the swimming pool with his trunk to swim during a hangout with his friends.
Worried by the death of their colleague, the military in the state arrested some staff and the hotel and took them for interrogation.
In an interview in Umuahia, Dr. Steve Ihedigbo, Chairman/CEO of Hotel Royal Damgrete said after the interrogation of three of the hotel staff, including Mr. Etibu, a senior female military police officer ordered for a corporal punishment of his staff.
According to him, when the victim was rescued, there was nothing to suggest that he was drowned, saying his stomach was flat and water was not found in his system.
While suspecting a foul play, the Chairman alleged that one of the Cadet officers who had visited the hotel along with the late Onyeomereneche when the incident happened was brought before the military as a prime suspect.
He however expressed surprise that during the corporal punishment, he was among those detailed to beat his staff, alleging that during the punishment, he personally hit the F&B manager on his head to ensure he dies, apparently to conceal the circumstances behind the death of Onyeomereneche.
According to Ihedigbo, the late F&B manager was at the scene when everything happened and was in the right place to give testimony on what led to the death of Onyeomereneche, insisting that the colleague of the deceased has a question to answer.
On where the diver of the hotel was when the incident happened, he the chairman said he closed at 6pm, before the late Onyeomereneche and his friends visited the hotel.
He insists that his staff and the hotel are not complicit, urging for a thorough investigation on the death of the late Cadet.
Meanwhile, The Nigerian military on Sunday said it has arrested personnel involved in the interrogation process that led to the death of Achimugu James Etubi, section manager of Hotel Royal Damgrete, Umuahia, Abia State.
The military announced that a preliminary investigation is ongoing to ascertain the actual cause of Etubi’s death.
Below are pictures of Hotel Royal Damgrete Staff Who Were Alleged Tortured By The Military