Crime

See How Police Inspector was Sentenced to Death for Murder of Phone Dealer

Published by Tope Fakinlede on June 13th, 2024.

See How Police Inspector was Sentenced to Death for Murder of Phone Dealer

On Tuesday, the Delta State High Court in Asaba sentenced Inspector Ubi Ebri of the Nigeria Police Force to death for the murder of phone dealer Onyeka Ibeh.

Justice C. D. Diai presided over the case, which involved the fatal shooting of Ibeh by Inspector Ebri. The incident occurred on April 5, 2023, when Ibeh and his wife were driving from Ugbolu to Asaba and were stopped by a police team for a search.

After waiting for some time without being attended to, Ibeh decided to drive away. Enraged by this, Inspector Ebri fired into the vehicle, striking Ibeh in the head and killing him instantly. Ibeh’s wife, who was in the front seat, was unharmed.

The shooting sparked protests by youths in Asaba, who demanded justice for Ibeh’s killing. The prosecution, led by E.H. Edema from the Ministry of Justice, charged Inspector Ebri with murder, arguing that he was part of a police patrol conducting a stop-and-search operation on the Ugbolu-Asaba Road.

Following the verdict, Edema described the judgment as a landmark decision, emphasizing that justice had been served for both the deceased and society. Ibeh’s elder brother, Ifeanyi Ibeh, who attended the trial, also praised the court for delivering justice to their family.