An Anambra State High Court in Onitsha has handed down a life imprisonment sentence to three former police officers for the killing of a 42-year-old man, Chukwunonso Uchenwoke, from Mbosi in Ihiala Local Government Area.
The incident, which occurred on May 14, 2016, at No 13 Ibe Street, East Niger Layout, Okpoko in Ogbaru Local Government Area, led to the arrest and subsequent dismissal of the accused officers from the Nigeria Police Force.
Justice A.O. Okuma, presiding over the case, delivered the verdict on Wednesday, finding the accused guilty of conspiracy and murder charges. The conviction was based on evidence presented by the Prosecution Counsel, proving the case beyond reasonable doubt.
According to Trulaw Chambers, represented by Principal Counsel C.J. Okeke Esq., the accused were sentenced to seven years imprisonment for conspiracy and life imprisonment for manslaughter. The prosecution, Okeke, hailed the judgement as a triumph for justice.
However, the counsel for the first defendant, G.A Oluwatuase, expressed intentions to appeal the verdict, while the counsels for the second and third defendants, C.E Ezenwa Esq. and C.J Agbata respectively, sought a copy of the judgement to determine their next course of action.
In response to the judgement, Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Sylvia Ifemeje, emphasized the significance of the legal system in upholding justice, reaffirming the state’s commitment to ensuring accountability and fairness in law enforcement.
