A High Court in Asaba, Delta State has sentenced police officer, Inspector Ubi Ebri, to death for the murder of a phone repairer, Emmanuel Ibeh Onyeka.
Justice C.D. Diai, presiding over the case, found Ebri guilty on all charges and imposed the death penalty.
The prosecution, led by E.H. Edema from the Ministry of Justice, argued that the officer fatally shot Onyeka, who was a telephone repairer and seller.
According to prosecutors Edema and Michael Ayogbe, the incident occurred on April 5, 2023, when Ebri was part of a police patrol conducting a stop-and-search operation along Ugbolu-Asaba road.
Onyeka and his wife were traveling from Ugbolu to Asaba when they were stopped by the police.
After waiting to be searched and receiving no attention, Onyeka decided to drive away.
Infuriated, Ebri fired into the vehicle, hitting Onyeka in the head and killing him instantly. Onyeka’s wife, who was in the front seat, was unharmed.
The killing sparked significant protests by youths in Asaba.
Following the verdict, Edema described it as a landmark judgment, stating that justice had been served for the deceased and society.
Fidel Ifeanyi Ibeh, the elder brother of the deceased, praised the court for delivering justice for his family.
