Killing Of Aba Business Man Emmanuel Okocha: Police Dismisses Officer

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Abia State Police Command has said that it has concluded investigations into the killing of an  Aba based businessman,  Michael Emmanuel Okocha, by an Operative of the Police Rapid Response Squad, RRS,  in Aba, April 2024.

This is even as it said the matter has been referred to the State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice for prosecution.

The Source reports that late Okocha was on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 ,shot by Corporal Obagi Njok, a Police Personnel attached to the RRS Abayi Police formation  at a check point along the Aba/Owerri Road in the Commercial nerve centre of Abia State.

Okocha who was on his way from his Abiribe home back to Aba ,was said to have been shot for refusing to part with some money .

Although, he did not die on the spot ,Okocha finally bowed to the cold hands of death on Friday May 19 at a private medical facility in Aba ,after failed frantic efforts to save his life, including multiple surgeries .

His death, expectedly, provoked wide outrage from not a few ,and spontaneous calls for a thorough inquest in to the circumstances surrounding the incident .

But in a statement issued on Tuesday, June 11,2024 by the Abia state police Command spokesperson Chilaka Maureen ASP,,the Abia police  ,said police Corporal Njok who fired the fatal gunshot has also been found guilty and subsequently dismissed.

” I refer to the command’s press release on 20/04/2024 concerning the unfortunate incident resulting in the death of Mr Emmanuel Okocha.

“Disciplinary actions have been concluded by the Abia state police Command .Relevant stakeholders including the family of the deceased were carried along at every step of the process.

“Police Corporal (as he then was) was found guilty of discreditable conduct to with misuse of firearm and has therefore been dismissed from the Nigeria police Force.

“Investigation in to the criminal aspects of his conduct has also been concluded and the matter has therefore been handed over to the office of the Attorney General,and Commissioner for Justice ,Abia state on May 24 2024 for prosecution in court .

The Abia State police Command remains steadfast in upholding professionalism and rule of law .We unequivocally condemn any act of misconduct, unprofessionalism and indiscipline among our officers, ” the statement reads.