The Delta State High Court sitting at Asaba on Tuesday sentenced Inspector Ubi Ebri of the Nigeria Police Force to death on a murder charge.
The court presided over by Justice C. D Diai convicted and sentenced Ebri to death for killing a phone dealer, Onyeka Ibeh in Asaba.
The deceased, a popular phone dealer in Asaba, along with his wife was driving from Ugbolu to Asaba on April 5, 2023, when they were flagged down by the police team for 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.