Africa-Press – Nigeria. A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Monday, discharged and acquitted twelve suspects standing trial for the alleged murder of a female police inspector, Christiana Erekere.
Delivering judgment on the case, which began on June 18, 2024, the trial judge, Justice Augusta Kingsley-Chukwu, ruled that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the twelve suspects conspired to murder the late Inspector Erekere.
Justice Kingsley-Chukwu noted that the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses were contradictory and that the evidence presented had no direct link to the suspects.
Making reference to the autopsy report, the court stated that it indicated the deceased may have died from other complications, including asthma and suffocation, among other factors.
The court also ordered the prosecution to pay one million naira each to the twelve defendants as compensation.
Recall that Inspector Erekere was allegedly killed on April 24, 2024, during a stop-and-search operation at the Taaba Police Division in Khana Local Government Area by the now-acquitted suspects, who were traveling from Delta State to Akwa Ibom for a traditional marriage ceremony.
Reacting to the judgement, the elder brother of the late Inspector Erekere, Nkue Bariledum, and her daughter, Fortune Erekere, expressed displeasure over the court judgement.
For More News And Analysis About Nigeria Follow Africa-Press
