A Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa has sentenced a police sergeant, Jilla Lannubo, to death for the extra-judicial killing of one Oruyegha Grand at the Agudama area of the state.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Ineikade Eradiri sentenced the police officer to death by hanging.
The incident reportedly occurred on May 13, 2017, when the convicted cop, without provocation, shot Grand at close range, leaving him to die in a pool of blood.
Lannubo, a native of Bokos community, in Bokos Local Government Area of Plateau State, was attached to Mopol 30, Bayelsa State Command and was deployed in Akenfa Police Station for patrol duties before the incident.
The state Special Prosecutor, Arthur Andrew Seweniowor, told the court that the offence was contrary to section 247(1) of the Criminal Code Law. Cap c14 Laws of Bayelsa State, 2006.
But Lannubo, who admitted shooting Grand, however said he did so in line with his duty as a policeman, maintaining that the shot was to frighten the deceased as he was trying to escape arrest.
In the course of the trial, the prosecution had called 15 witnesses, including the deceased’s wife and brother to prove its case that Lannubo shot Grand without any provocation on the
said day.
Seweniowor argued that the three essential ingredients the prosecution must establish to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, had been established in the case.
He said, “Unpleasant as it may seem that this honourable court may come to the finding that the prosecution has proved this case beyond reasonable doubt and impose the ultimate and single sentence of death, arriving at this decision is not based on any sentiment, but on law.
“My lord, the prosecution has placed before the court sufficient facts to sustain a conviction and as a court of law, I urge with respect that a guilty judgement be entered in favour of the prosecution.”
Justice Eradiri, in his judgment, concurred with the argument of the prosecution that it had established beyond reasonable doubt the case of murder against Lannubo and thereafter sentenced him to death by hanging.
