That the police kills erroneously and get away with it is no longer news in Nigeria. Just last month, five people have been erroneously killed by the police at various locations in the country and its so sad. the most recent is of a 22yr old girl that was erroneously shot by officers of the Fegge police station in Onitsha in the process of extorting N20 from a commercial motorcyclist! The police of course denied it and said it was robbers or miscreants that did it but we all know its them!
Is there no law in this land that they keep allowing these people to go scot free when they commit this darstardly acts? our legislators are busy canvassing for third thirm for presidents and govenors while issues like these are left untackled?
I believe if there are laws that are enforced against these acts, any police officer that is trigger-happy will think twice before pulling the trigger

check out the metro section of yesterday's guardian newspaper for more info.

here is a new development as per trigger happy policemen, culled from thisday
i'll bet these policemen were brought to book because they don't have god fathers,
it's a good thing the law is taking its course though.

An Orlu High Court presided over by Justice Emmanuel Njemanze has sentenced three former police officers to death for killing a civilian at a check point in Imo State in 2002.
The officers who were charged for murder are Sergeant Lazarus Adiele, Corporals Desmond Ononuju and Bonny Aikhedughi. 
While Inspector Sunday Uwadiegwu, the leader of the team had died in the course of the trial, Inspectors David Poli and Victor Chiaka and Constable Augustine Ochiaga excaped the hang man.
In an almost two hour judgment delivered by Justice Njemanze amid tight security of police and solders on Monday, the trio were found guilty of reckless, unreasonable, unjustifiable and indiscriminate firing of gun shot on one Christian Owereoma at Nempi- Aji Road on August !5, 2002. Assistant Commissioner of police Austin Akabu had posted the officers on patrol.
The judge relied on the evidences brought to his court by the witnesses, the prosecution counsels and the oral evidences from the accused persons.
ThisDay gathered that the late Owereoma was traveling in a red Nissan car with registration number C y 926 AAA along with his in law, Boniface Ozurumba when the cops fired gunshots on them.

However, Owereoma died shortly after under going treatment at White Rose Hospital Mgbidi, Imo state and was subsequently deposited at the New Heaven Hospital, Mgbidi.

Njemanze, in his ruling said the Assistant superintendent of Police (ASP), Nath Omonu produced evidences against the accused.

He said in his ruling of the case HOR/ 3C/ 2003 mentioning the condemned persons one after the other: "You will be hanged on the neck until you are dead. May the Lord have mercy on you".

The High court judge said he relied on 261 -271 of the criminal code in his ruling, stating that "I hold that the police men had no justifiable reason in Law to do so".


He cited that after the incidence took place, authorities of the police in Mgbidi, Owerri, Headquarters of  Imo and Zone 9, Umuahia headed by the late Assistant Inspector of police (AIG) Raphael Ige interviewed the accused and later tried and dismissed them.

He contended that when the officers fired at the deceased and his in-law nothing incriminating was after all found in them, Christian bled profusely and died. Later on post mortem (Autopsy), it was reported that the deceased died as a result of massive pellets that pierced through his heart and lungs.

In his defence, the counsel for the accused,  Chief Benjamin Okemini cited Section 316 of the criminal code, stating that "the facts and circumstances of the case does not fall in the definition of muder".

He also cited Poli Act of 1990 Sectio 4 and said that the accused were on lawful duty, asking for their discharge and acquitting.

Okemini indicated interest to appeal the case.

Lead prosecution counsel, Mr. Samuel Onuoha in his submission who cupiosly cited Section 271 sub section 2 of the criminal code and Section 24 sub section 1 of the Police Act said the accused intentionally killed the deceased.

One of the discharged persons and the driver of the ALGON jeep in which they were going on patrol, David Poli said he was happy about the judgment freeing him, expressing his resolve to re-apply for his recall in to the Force.

ThisDay reports that relations of the condemned persons, shortly after the judgement wept uncontrolably, as condemned were whisked away.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=48279