A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has cleared 12 travellers who were accused of murdering a female police officer, Inspector Christiana Erekere, bringing an end to a high-profile case that has dragged on for more than a year.
Inspector Erekere, who was attached to the Taaba Police Division in Khana Local Government Area, reportedly died after a confrontation with the group during a stop-and-search operation in April 2024.
According to court documents, the 12 travellers — who were on their way to Akwa Ibom State for a traditional wedding — were arrested and charged with 13 counts of conspiracy and murder. The prosecution alleged that they assaulted the late Inspector during an encounter near Taaba Police Station, leading to her death.
The accused persons included Joy Uwheraka, Shirley Wealth, Napoleon Uwheraka, Ejiro Ejogbamu, Moses Agege, Precious Iyot, Kikelomo Odusanyo, Wealth Ojoh, Efeoghene Uwheraka, Ighofose Oke, Blessing Ovie, and Emeka Joshua.
Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Augusta Chukwu ruled that the prosecution failed to establish any credible link between the accused persons and the alleged murder.
According to the judge, the evidence and witnesses presented by the prosecution did not prove beyond reasonable doubt that the travellers conspired to kill Inspector Erekere.
“The prosecution was unable to prove the essential ingredients of conspiracy and murder,” Justice Chukwu held. “The testimonies of witnesses were inconsistent and did not directly connect the defendants to the alleged crime.”
The judge therefore discharged and acquitted all 12 accused persons, awarding ₦1 million each as compensation for their “unlawful arrest and prolonged detention.”
Speaking after the court session, defence counsel Robert Igwere expressed satisfaction with the ruling, describing it as “a victory for justice and due process.”
“I feel very fulfilled as a lawyer,” Igwere told reporters outside the courtroom. “This case has been about fairness from day one, and I’m glad that justice has taken its full course. Justice is not just for the defendants — it is also for society and even for the victim. What happened today is justice served.”
He emphasised that the verdict was not based on technical grounds but on the clear failure of the prosecution to meet the legal threshold required in a criminal case.
“In criminal trials, the burden of proof is on the prosecution, and it must be beyond a reasonable doubt. Where there is doubt, the court has no option but to give the benefit of that doubt to the defendants. My Lord’s judgment reflected this principle clearly,” he said.
However, the counsel for the prosecution, Celestine Dickson, said he was surprised by the court’s decision and that the police authorities would review the judgment before determining their next steps.
“I’m honestly shocked by the outcome of today’s ruling,” Dickson said. “It cannot become a norm in this country that people can walk into a police station, assault an officer who later dies, and then walk away free.”
He added that while he respected the court’s position, the police legal team would carefully study the judgment and consider possible legal options, including an appeal.
“The team will meet with the police authorities to review the judgment, examine the evidence again, and advise on the next line of action,” Dickson stated.
The judgment has stirred mixed reactions in legal and security circles, with some hailing the decision as a triumph of justice, while others expressed concern over what they described as “a setback for police morale.”
Legal analysts note that the ruling reinforces a fundamental principle of Nigerian criminal law — that no one should be convicted on suspicion or emotion unless the prosecution can prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
For the 12 acquitted travellers, however, Monday’s ruling marks the end of a painful chapter that began with what they say was a “wrong place, wrong time” encounter on their way to a wedding.
