The Abia State Police command on Tuesday, February 9 before a judicial panel revealed what happened to one Christian Chukwubuike Onuoha (deceased).
The police command who was petitioned by Michael Onuoha for the murder of his brother, sent a witness to the panel .
The respondent’s witness , inspector Abiodun Olotan, a policeman attached to homicide section SCID Umuahia Abia State, confirmed that the deceased person was murdered by a policeman.
In his defense, Abiodun said ; ” on the 3rd day of June 2019 at about 11pm, a case of murder of one Christian Onuoha was reported at world bank police station by the deceased’s elder brother, one Kenneth Chibueze Onuoha.
” The matter was transferred to state CID Umuahia and referred to my team for investigation.
“The appealant alleged that about 8:30pm on 3rd June, 2019, that himself, the deceased and one Felix Orji were in a Toyota Camry vehicle coming out from the house of one Mrs Elesigwe where they went for a meeting with the president of Okwulega Afaraukwu.
” On their way, one white Toyota hilux was coming from the opposite direction and it’s headlamp was obstructing their sight.
” Three of them alighted from the vehicle , accousted the driver of the hilux who they identified as sergeant Collins Apugo, a police officer.
” They pleaded with him to put off his headlamp. It resulted to an argument between the sergeant and the three men.
” The situation degenerated, srgt. Apugo who was armed with AK 47, fired the rifle and the bullet hit the deceased Christian.
“It was further alleged that Christian was taken to FMC Umuahia that night, but was confirmed dead on arrival.
The inspector mentioned that the complainant and other witnesses were contacted and they volunteered their respective statements after the case file was transferred to his department.
Also, efforts made to track down the srgt. In question proved futile.
According to the inspector, it was discovered after investigations that Apugo was attached to Operations department of the Abia state command headquarters Umuahia but was posted on duty as an orderly to one barrister Chukwuemeka Nwaogu.
He further said; ” it was also gathered that srgt. Collins Apugo was issued with one Ak-47 rifle for the effective performance of his statutory duty”.
He said the policeman who is still at large, was considered to be off duty as at the time of the incidence and should have returned his rifle to any nearest police station.
“It is also worthy to note that srgt. Apugo was known by the complainant and two others before the incident and he wouldn’t have resorted to shooting if not for the provocative approach of the complainants.
He noted also that the police made public a price tag of N500,000 to anyone who has a useful information on the whereabout of the srgt. as he acted on his own by shooting the deceased person.
Abiodun mentioned that no autopsy was carried out on the remains of the deceased as the family requested for his corpse to be released for burial.
The police in their defense, mentioned the case as a murder case and not extra Judicial Killing.
The petitioner’s counsel, S.O. Adikpo pleaded for a short time, to enable him prepare for cross examination of the witness.
The court adjourned the matter to March 3, 2021 for further hearing and cross examination.
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