Court frees 12 over Rivers policewoman’s death, orders ₦12m compensation

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has discharged and acquitted twelve persons earlier arraigned for the alleged murder of Police Inspector Christiana Erekere.

The court, presided over by Justice Augusta Chukwu, also ordered that each of the defendants — who had spent 18 months in custody — be paid ₦1 million as compensation for unlawful detention.

Justice Chukwu held that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case or prove the allegation beyond reasonable doubt. She noted that the evidence led by the state was riddled with inconsistencies and largely hinged on hearsay.

Inspector Erekere died on April 25, 2024, following an altercation during a stop-and-search operation at a checkpoint while the 12 defendants were travelling to Akwa Ibom for a wedding.

However, an autopsy tendered in court showed that the policewoman did not die from physical assault but from an underlying medical condition — a key factor that swayed the court’s decision.

Families of the freed defendants burst into jubilation after the verdict, while relatives of the late officer wept openly.

Prosecution counsel, Celestine Dickson, told reporters outside the courtroom that he was “shocked” by the ruling and would consult with police authorities to review the judgment before deciding on the next course of action.

Defence counsel, Sunny Nwokoro, hailed the verdict, saying the judgment vindicated the principle that murder must be proven “beyond reasonable doubt and not on the strength of emotions.”

Meanwhile, the family of the deceased has vowed to appeal the ruling, insisting that the late inspector was murdered and had no prior medical condition.