By Ben Duru
Abia State Police Commissioner, Adamu Ibrahim, has warned that any officer who violates the law will be prosecuted.
He said firearm is not among weapons designated for crowd control and that police personnel are aware of this provision.
Ibrahim spoke to TheNiche in Umuahia after the arraignment of Constable Tijani Oseni before an Umuahia Chief Magistrates Court over the murder of John Ndubuka, Personal Assistant to the son of Governor Theodore Orji on February 15.
The incident took place at the old Umuahia main market, where Oseni allegedly fired a single shot from an AK 47 rifle that rippled through the back of Ndubuka to his chest. He died before medical personnel could treat him.
“Immediately it happened,” Ibrahim recalled, “we surrounded the place and cordoned off the policemen who had their firearms on at the vicinity. He (Oseni) confirmed that he was the one from whose gun the bullet escaped. He has to face the wrath of the law.”
“We finished investigations in good time, but you know that there are procedures that must be followed before charging him to court. We conducted the Orderly Room Trial and he could not defend himself properly.”
“He was subsequently dismissed from the force to face murder charge. The police have nothing to hide. This is one of the things the Inspector General of Police continues to harp on every day. Policemen must be careful how they behave in public.”
Oseni, 29, was escorted by detectives in handcuffs and arraigned before Chief Magistrate John Ukpai. No plea was taken from him after the single count charge was read to him.
Ukpai ruled that the case file be transferred to the director of public prosecution (DPP) along with all evidence and other relevant materials.
The case was adjourned till May 12 for report of compliance of the order.