Why Late Nnenna Usulor Deserves Justice

The beginning of the New Year is usually the period of hope rising that the baggage of the passed year would give way to new hope; new aspirations and a better future. It is the time for new year resolutions. It was perhaps in that spirit that Nurse Nnenna Usulor went to a night vigil in her place of work, a major private hospital on January 4, 2017. She must have been upbeat that the year will bring her happiness and joy. But it was not to be. The next morning she was found dead in her place of work-the hospital. Her throat slit, killed in the same hospital where she had saved lives, delivered babies to this world and encouraged the sick. She died in the hospital where she worked in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.

According to the family, Nnenna had joined other members of staff of the popular private hospital in Abakaliki convened by the proprietor of the hospital, a trained medical doctor and University Don for a night vigil which the doctor was said to have organized to call for God’s blessings and more patronage in the New Year. The night vigil turned tragic when Nnenna’s dead body was found with multiple stab injuries and slit throat.  The Usulor family could not be consoled. It was a tragic and painful New Year. It was Nnenna’s brother Friday Usulor who had the difficult job of reporting the matter to the police and the matter was subsequently transferred to the criminal investigation Department, Central Police Station, Abakaliki.

Sadly uptill now, this matter has not been litigated upon in the competent court of jurisdiction despite the fact that the alleged offence is a felony and a crime against the state. There seem to be a total blackout of the matter and every effort by the family to get justice have been thwarted by the owner of the hospital who ought to be arrested to explain the circumstances surrounding the death of his employee. The family having been frustrated by the proprietor of the hospital, who is also a chieftain of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state who has used his position to stall investigation on this dastardly act. It should not be so. Nigeria is not an animal kingdom. It is a nation of laws.

And those who broke the law must be held accountable. It is therefore the responsibility of the police to investigate this matter to the hilt. But justice delayed, is justice denied. The soul of Nnenna Usulor is crying for justice and the family needs justice irrespective of how it was settled for the alleged offence is a crime against the state.

Two years have gone since Nnenna’s life was cut short, but justice is not yet in sight. In the effort to get justice for Nnenna, a petition had been written against the proprietor of the hospital where she died with no success. In the petition directed at the Federal Ministry of Health, other stakeholders were copied, including the Attorney General of the Federation; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF); Chief of Staff to the President; Minister of Health for State; Registrar Medical & Dental Council of Nigeria; Chairman National Human Rights Commission; Inspector General of Police; Chairman ICPC; Chairman EFCC; Director General DSS; Chairman Public Complaint Commission.

The particularly want the new acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu to intervene in this matter by ensuing that justice is done for Nnenna. We like the rest of the country are appreciative of the reforms that the IGP has introduced since his appointment and pray that he cause the Police in Ebonyi State Command to investigate  and prosecute those that allegedly masterminded the murder of Nurse Nnenna Usulor and bring them to justice. Even though Nnenna was from a poor family, she also deserve justice. That is the only way the family can be consoled knowing that the killer (s) of their daughter had been held accountable.