A physically-challenged father, Mr. John Eguzouwa, has accused the management of Rayjok Hotels and Suites, Rumuokoro, Port Harcourt, Rivers State of deleting Close Circuit Television (CCTV) footage showing the circumstances surrounding how his son drowned in its swimming pool on April 17.
Eguzouwa, who has a hearing impairment, spoke to reporters on Thursday in the state capital.
He described the death of his 18-year-old son, Victor, as shocking and painful.
Eguzouwa said that he had spent so much to train the deceased, even with his challenge.
He alleged that the hotel deleted the CCTV footage of Sunday, April 17, when his son died and wondered why.
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According to him, the hotel’s action suggested it had something to hide about his son’s death.
“All I am demanding is justice for my son.
“I am also using this opportunity to call on the human rights community to intervene to help the family get justice for Victor.”
Earlier, the victim’s elder brother, Emmanuel alleged that Victor was murdered in Rayjok Hotels and Suites, Rumuokoro, Port Harcourt, on Sunday, April 17.
Emmanuel told newsmen that his late brother went swimming with three of his friends at a swimming pool in the hotel, where he allegedly got drowned.
He further said that the hotel management called the family to inform it of Victor’s death.
He, however, expressed worry that the hotel could not provide the CCTV footage to help ascertain what led to his brother’s death.
Meanwhile, members of the Physically Challenged Community in Rivers, to which the victim’s father belongs, called on the police to investigate the incident and ensure justice is done.
The group made the appeal on Thursday when it mobilised to stage a peaceful protest on the premises of Rayjok Hotels and Suites.
They asked the hotel management to provide an answer to the cause of Victor’s death.
The hotel was deserted, and no member of staff was available to speak to newsmen, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident.
She said that the matter had been transferred from Rumuodumaya Divisional Station, where it was reported, to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).
She said that the Commissioner of Police, Mr Friday Eboka, had assigned the matter to a senior officer at the SCID for further investigation.
It was learnt that the deceased was a student at the Academy for Advanced Learning, undergoing the Interim Joint Matriculation Board Examination to study Medicine and Surgery.