4 Police Officers, pastor and church deacon to face murder charge, pay N20 million over death of Umuagwo Poly student

4 Police Officers and a pastor will Monday next week, face murder charge as well as pay the sum of N20 million to the family of a twenty-one year old student of Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area on the night of September 10, 2015.

On the 10th of September,2015, Mr Ikechukwu Vincent Uwagbaokwu, a year two Marketing student of Imo Polytechnic went to bed at about 9:00pm but at about 10;50pm there were persistent banging on the door of the family house of the Uwagbaokwus.

When Mr Anthony Uwagbaokwe (Brother of deceased) came out to see who was banging on their door, behold, there were about ten fierce-looking men in Police uniform who had taken strategic positions in all the surroundings of the house.

Anthony Uwagbaokwe said “One of the men in uniform who came with Hilux pick up van and black Camry Saloon Car, hit the door of one of the occupants (names withheld) and forced it open. When the occupant came out, the men in Police uniform, who refused to identify themselves, said that he was not the person that they are looking for.

“The Police went to the direction pointed to by the person who allegedly directed them. The armed Policemen forced the next wooden door open and on sighting Ikechukwu Vincent Uagbaokwu, one of the Policemen shot at him at the ribs and he died immediately.

“On seeing that they have killed him, the policemen jumped into the waiting vehicles and drove off”.

“”Our clients raised alarm but nobody came to their rescue. The matter was reported to Ehimiri Police Station in whose jurisdiction the this area falls, but the Police could not give any useful assistance as they deny sending Policemen out on that day to effect arrest”.

The family of the slain student later petition the then State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Habila Joshack through Bar Dr. Godwin Chionye, accusing the police for the gruesome murder of the Imo Poly student.

According to the family’s counsel, the matter was reported to the Ehimiri Police Station first “where the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) who gave them order to deposit the deceased at Madonna Mortuary in Umuahia”.

Narrating his ordeal of the family to our correspondent, the father of the deceased, Mr. Emmanuel Uwagbaokwu, a 54 year old house builder while corroborating with the position the family Counsel said, “I am not suspecting but those who killed my son were Policemen from Ehimiri Police Station, Umuahia.’

Mr. Uwagbaokwu, a father of six disclosed “immediately I reported the matter to Ehimiri Police Station and the DPO there who denied not sending his men to duty to that area that night also ordered some police team to follow to the scene of the incident, on the way, the team dodged us and they did not reach our house

Mr Uwagbaokwu then called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase to order for full investigation in order to unravel the killers of their son.

The police officers were identified as (now) Ex-Sergeant Ogbonna Alieze, Sergeant Eyong Inah, Corporal Obi Chimbuike and Constable Okafor Ugochukwu, while others involved are the owner of Christ Empire International Church, Pastor King Martins and his Deacon, Ikechukwu Ogbonna

However, last Thursday, an Umuahia high court indicted the four police officers and the pastor of a Pentecostal church and his deacon over the murder, and ordered them to jointly pay the sum of N20 million as compensation to the family of the deceased.

In his judgment on the suit No. HU/43M/2017, Justice Kenneth Okereke held that the respondents were guilty of conspiring among themselves for the cold blooded murder of the deceased, who was a student of Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwo.

He said that the respondents failed, to justify the killing the boy, who was not even the suspect in the alleged stealing of the church property and was not armed at the time the police invaded their home.
“Vincent Ikechukwu Uwagbaokwu died an innocent man,” he said, adding that till date none of those involved in the killing has shown remorse and apologized for taking the life of the boy.

Justice Okereke said that the judgment would serve as deterrent to policemen who feel they could take life at will just because they are armed.

He also ordered that the pastor and all the policemen involved in the illegal operation should be arraigned in court for murder of the late student.

Following the extra-judicial killing of the boy, his father Mr. Emmanuel Uwagbaokwu had filed a suit in conjunction with a human rights lawyer, Jude Nwaokoro, asking the court to declare that the extra-judicial killing was a violation of the deceased’s right to life.

In the suit number HU/43M/2017 the applicants had asked for five reliefs including N10 billion ‘exemplary damage’ (compensation), an enforcement of the deceased’s fundamental right to life, and a declaration that the deceased was unlawfully and unconstitutionally killed by the respondents.

The applicants also asked the court to order the police to tender public apology to the family of the deceased and award any other relief the court may deem fit.

Pastor Martin is to pay the N20 million compensation alongside four police officers, namely, Ikechukwu Ogbonna (church deacon), Ex-Sergeant Ogbonna Alieze, Sergeant Eyong Inah, Corporal Obi Chimbuike and Constable Okafor Ugochukwu.

Speaking to journalists after the judgment, the lead counsel to the applicants, Jude Nwaokoro said that the judgment has resolved the issue of the violation of the fundamental human rights of the deceased.

Another counsel to the applicants, Peter Agbai said that the court judgment has sent “a strong signal” to any police officer who would indulge in rascal behaviours just because they carry guns.

“We pray they (police) will earn their lessons,” he said.

Father of the deceased, Emmanuel Uwagbaokwu said he was pleased with the judgment as the court has vindicated his son who was killed and tagged a criminal by police and Pastor Martins.

“Court has proved that my late Son Vincent was not a robber and was innocently killed by the police on the orders of the pastor who illegally engaged them,” he said.

Meanwhile the indicted persons are to be arraigned in court on February 19, 2018 as the attorney general of the state has filed information against the Pastor, Deacon Ogbonna and the four policemen on two counts charge of conspiracy to murder and murder of the deceased.