By Onoriode Etatsemi.
A Police Inspector, Ubi Ebri of the Delta Police command has been sentenced to death by an Asaba High Court for shooting to death a popular GSM seller/repairer based at Ugbolu community near Asaba, Delta State, Mr. Emmanuel Onyeka Ibeh sometime last year.
Prosecution led by a Director in the Ministry of Justice Mr E.H. Edema and Michael Ayogbe diligently prosecuted the case by calling vital witnesses and tendering of relevant exhibits.
According to Prosecution the convicted Police Inspector was part of a Police Patrol team that mounted a road block (stop and search exercise) on 5th of April 2023 along the Ugbolu Asaba Road.
They told the Court that deceased Mr Emmanuel Onyeka Ibeh was driving in company of the wife from Ugbolu to Asaba when they were flagged down by the police team for search.
The deceased was said to have complied by stopping but after waiting for a while to be searched and wasn’t attended to, he drove off, an action that infuriated the Inspector to open fire directly into the vehicle leading to the blasting Onyeka’s head who died instantly.
The wife of the deceased seated at the front seat with him was however unhurt.
Justice C. D Diai, whose Court the matter was tried convicted and sentenced the Inspector to death on a murder charge.
It will be recalled that the killing of the deceased sparked up protest by youths.
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 judgment also commended the court for delivering justice to his family.