The Delta State High Court sitting at Asaba on Tuesday convicted and sentenced a Inspector Ubi Ebri of the Nigeria Police Force for murder.
The court was presided over by Hon. Justice C.D. Diai and the police officer was convicted for the killing of Emmanuel Ibeh Onyeka, a telephone repairer and seller in Asaba.
The prosecution, led by Messrs. E.H. Edema (a director in the Ministry of Justice) and Michael Ayogbe, alleged that the defendant was part of a police patrol team that mounted a stop-and-search exercise on April 5, 2023, along the Ugbolu-Asaba Road in the state capital.
The deceased, Emmanuel Onyeka Ibeh and his wife were driving from Ugbolu to Asaba when they were flagged down by the police team for a search
Ibeh had stopped and waited to be searched, but after a prolonged delay without being attended to, they decided to move on.
Infuriated by the action of the deceased, the police inspector immediately opened fire into the vehicle and the bullet hit Ibeh on the head. The wife of the deceased, who was in the front seat, was unhurt.
The incident led to protests by youths along the streets of Asaba and to police headquarters to demand justice.
The prosecution, led by a Director in the Ministry of Justice E.H Edema, speaking to journalists 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.”
Also, the older brother of the deceased, Ifeanyi Ibeh who witnessed the judgement commended the court for delivering justice to his family.
