By:Ade Phillips
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Zuba, on Friday, sentenced a dismissed inspector, Haruna Ocheni, to 30 years’ imprisonment for killing a 17-year-old boy.
As reported by NAN, the police charged Mr Ocheni with culpable homicide, not punishable by death.
Delivering judgement, Justice Kezziah Ogbonnaya held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, saying that Mr Ocheni did not have a legitimate reason to be in the deceased’s house at the time of the incident.
Ms Ogbonnaya asserted that as an inspector with over 29 years in service, he ought to know the rules of his profession.
”He did not deny using the rifle and confirmed the release of two bullets from it. The shots were fired with the knowledge that it could lead to death,” she said.
Earlier, the deceased’s father, Gabriel Chikezie, while being led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Adama Musa, told the court that Mr Ocheni shot and killed his son.
Mr Chikezie said his deceased son stole a generator from his home in Kubwa, Abuja, on March 15, 2020, and he decided to call his neighbour, Pastor Ocheni, to help him with a police officer to recover the generator.
He said he contacted Mr Ocheni, who came to his house with a rope, tied both of his son’s hands and dragged him.
Mr Chikezie added that while his son resisted, Mr Ocheni hit him on the head with a weapon and then shot him.
He further said that he took his son to the Kubwa General Hospital, where he was confirmed dead.
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