A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has sentenced Shedrack Ibibo and Magus Awuri, two former officers of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to death by hanging over the killing of Michael Akor and Michael Igwe, while in their custody for allegedly stealing recharge cards in Oyigbo, Rivers state in 2015.
Ibibo and Awuri were part of a five-member SARS team including Samuel Chigbu, Ogoligo and Olisa Emeka who allegedly carried out the extra-judicial killing.
Chigbu and Ogoligo died in detention at the correctional centre in Port Harcourt while the other 3 members of the SARS team continued with the trial.
The presiding judge, Justice Margaret Opara found Ibibo and Awuri guilty of conspiracy to murder while Emeka was acquitted of all charges.
Addressing journalists after the judgement, the state prosecution council said, “The court found out that they actually were guilty of murdering the two deceased persons.
“The court discharged and acquitted Emeka based on the findings of the court because the prosecution did not prove his case concerning the last person.
“From the judgement, justice has been served to the family of the deceased and that makes me happy. It will serve as a deterrent hopefully to other police officers and also give some sort of closure to the families of the deceased persons.”
