Court sentences policeman to death for murder in Asaba

By Dave Okpogadie, Asaba

A Delta State High Court sitting in Asaba and presided over by Honourable Justice C. D Diai has convicted and sentenced one Inspector Ubi Ebri of the Nigeria Police Force to death on a murder charge.

The prosecution, led by a Director in the Ministry of Justice Mr E.H Edema, convicted the police man for the killing of Mr Emmanuel Ibeh, Onyeka, a telephone repairer/seller.

The Prosecution led by Messrs E.H Edema, a Director in the Ministry of Justice, E.H Edema and Michael Ayogbe alleged that the Defendant, was part of a Police Patrol team Inspector Ubi Ebri, that mounted a stop and search exercise on 5th of April 2023 along the Ugbolu Asaba Road in the State Capital.

The deceased Mr Emmanuel Onyeka Ibeh and his wife were driving from Ugbolu to Asaba when they were flagged down by the police team for search.

The deceased complied with the request but after waiting for a while to be searched, and they were not being attended to, the deceased decided to pull off and move away.

Infuriated by the action of the deceased, the Defendant immediately opened fire into the vehicle and bullets hit the deceased on the head and he died instantly.

The wife of the deceased who sat in the front seat with him was unhurt.

It will be recalled that the killing of the deceased by the Defendant led to protest by youths in the town.

Mr Edema in a chat with journalists soon after the judgement said, “Today’s judgement is a landmark judgement because justice has been served in this case to the deceased and the society at large.”

Mr Fidel Ifeanyi Ibeh, elder brother of the deceased, who witnessed the judgement also commended the court for delivering justice to his family.