A police constable, Paul Ogbeh was on Thursday, April 23, 2015, acquitted after spending five years in jail for the alleged killing of some men believed to be armed robbers.
Prior to his arrest and subsequent imprisonment, Constable Ogbeh was attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.
On the day of the incident that led to his imprisonment, Constable Ogbeh and his team received and responded to a distress call about an armed robbery taking place.
The presiding Judge sitting at Lagos High Court, Justice Olabisi Akinlade, found him not guilty for the two count murder charge due to insufficient evidence by the prosecution and discharged on the grounds that he was performing his lawful duty.
“The defendant was performing his lawful duty on the day of the incident. The prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. The prosecution did not tender any post-mortem or medical report in the death of the deceased, no ballistics report was tendered by the prosecution and there was also failure by the prosecution to produce eyewitnesses.
“All these lapses in the prosecution’s case have created doubt in the eyes of the court. The prosecution has failed to create any direct or circumstantial evidence linking the defendant to the death of the two deceased. The defendant is, hereby, discharged and acquitted of the two-count charge of murder against him.”
An obviously relieved and joyful could be seen making the sign of the cross, thereafter he lifted his hands, thanked the court and left the court room.
Speaking to newsmen, he said; “I feel happy because I held onto my God since day one of my incarceration because the murders happened while I was performing my lawful duties. While I was in prison, I enrolled with the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, to study Criminology and Security Studies and I intend to complete my education.”
