NIGERIA: POLICE CORPORAL SENTENCED TO DEATH

September 27, 2012: An Ikeja High Court presided over by Justice Olabisi Akinlade has sentenced a 35-year old Police Corporal, Okechukwu Nwabueze, to death for killing a three-year old girl, Kaosara Muritala three years ago in Lagos, southwest Nigeria.
Okechukwu was alleged to have shot and killed the girl on 5 April, 2009 at a police check point located at Obanle-Aro near Mr. Biggs in Alapere, Ketu.
Three witnesses including the deceased father, a police officer and Professor John Obafunwa, a pathologist testified against the accused person.
Delivering Judgment in the matter today, Justice Akinlade held that the prosecution had proved the case against the former police officer beyond reasonable doubt.
The Judge noted that in his defence the convict gave contradictory account of what happened on the fateful day but admitted that he expended two rounds of ammunition that day.
The judge also noted that the convict claimed that he shot into the air to scare the driver of the car who allegedly refused to stop.
In his testimony, the deceased father claimed that the police never stopped them and that he only heard a gunshot few metres away from the checkpoint.
In her final judgment, Justice Akinlade upheld the case of the prosecution and subsequently sentenced Corporal Okechukwu Nwabueze to death by hanging. (Sources: pmnewsnigeria.com, 27/09/2012)