The Nigerian Police Command in Bayelsa State yesterday announced its readiness to prosecute the three police officers found guilty of killing a 20-year-old Emmanuel Victor at a checkpoint along Sani Abacha expressway in the state.
According to the Police Command, the three officers indicted by the Orderly Room Trial Committee have paved way for a charge of murder against them.
When contacted on the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Egoaveon Emokpai, confirmed the report and said the command is set to drag the killer Cops to court.
Emokpae said the in-house trial conducted by the police did not exonerate them, adding that the police would follow laid down procedures in handling the matter. He said the trial would be made public and journalists would be allowed to cover the proceedings.
However, he failed to disclose the date of the prosecution of the three officers, giving no reasons why the police had refused to release the names of the officers, adding that the officers would remain in police custody until the commencement of their prosecution.
“We have finished our in-house trial and we are ready to prosecute the officers. The trial we conducted did not exonerate them and that is why we are going to take them to court. Like we said before, the police cannot hide officers who violate fundamental human rights. Their names will be released immediately we begin the prosecution,” he said.
Mother of the victim, Mrs. Grace, is insisting that the names of the police officers undergoing trial for her son’s murder be disclosed and wondered why the police are claiming to be transparent, and at the same time concealing their names.
She said the publication was crucial so as to ensure that the persons indicted in the crime match the identities.
“We don’t know why the police have failed to release the names of those undergoing the in-house trial for my son’s brutal killing. We are demanding that the police prove their transparency in this matter by not only releasing their names but also publishing their pictures,” she demanded.