The North West Zonal Director of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Julius Haruna, has died following a clash inside the office with a junior employee of the commission, Muibat Abdusalam.
The Secretary, Board of the FCCPC, Tam Tamunokonbia, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Tuesday.
In the statement, the Board Secretary said Haruna died in his office last Wednesday in Katsina, the Katsina State capital, adding that the Commission’s Governing Board has instituted a panel to investigate his death.
Tamunokonbia noted that Haruna was involved in a dispute, which escalated to fisticuffs, with Abdusalam, an employee of the commission.
He said the Board had also directed an immediate, but temporary relief of relevant leadership and operatives within the commission to ensure a fair, transparent and credible investigation.
Tamunokonbia said that Ben Nwoye, a legal practitioner and member of the Board, was appointed the chairman of the independent internal investigation panel.
He said that retired Air Vice Marshal Wakili Ahmed, another member of the Board, was appointed co-chairman of the panel.
Tamunokonbia said the Board directed that representatives from the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and Office of the Head of Service of the Federation be invited as members of the panel.
He added: “The Katsina State Police Command is currently continuing its own investigations.
“Ms Abdusalam is currently detained by the command.
“The commission will continue to make appropriate, full and frank disclosures of information, any investigative outcomes and or judicial processes, where applicable.
“The commission notwithstanding continues to discharge its mandate including across the North-West region.”
Tamunokonbia said the board extended its condolence to the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased.