How Supreme Court’s Ruling on Rogue Police Officer Rekindles Debate on Extrajudicial Killings

Remi Ladigbolu/

Months after the Nigerian Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of a police officer, Michael Assah, for the cold-blooded killing of a suspect in Ughelli, Delta State, the judgment continues to echo through discussions on police accountability and the persistent menace of extrajudicial killings in the country.

The ruling, delivered on April 4, 2025, reaffirmed the decisions of both the Delta State High Court and the Court of Appeal, sealing Assah’s fate and reinforcing the judiciary’s stance that no uniform offers protection from justice.

The case, which has resurfaced in public debate following renewed calls for police reform, dates back to August 2002.

While serving in Ughelli, Assah shot and killed one Christopher Ojeabulu, a young man accused of armed robbery. Witnesses testified that Ojeabulu, who had briefly escaped police custody, was later recaptured and executed in cold blood.

Medical evidence confirmed that the deceased sustained gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen, contradicting the officer’s claim that he had aimed only at the suspect’s legs.

The brutal incident stirred outrage at the time and soon became a test case for the Nigerian justice system.

Assah was charged with murder under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code applicable in Delta State. After a lengthy trial, the Delta State High Court found him guilty in 2009 and sentenced him to death by hanging.

His subsequent appeal to the Court of Appeal, Benin Division, was dismissed in 2015, leading to a final appeal to the Supreme Court.

In its April judgment, the apex court found no reason to disturb the concurrent findings of the lower courts. It held that the evidence against the officer was overwhelming and that his defence lacked credibility.

The justices concluded that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the killing was deliberate, unlawful and unjustifiable.

Since the ruling, legal experts and civil rights advocates have described the verdict as a landmark reaffirmation of judicial courage in holding law enforcement officers accountable. They argue that the case serves as a precedent that the law applies equally to both citizens and those entrusted to enforce it.

In a country still grappling with the aftermath of the EndSARS protests and recurrent cases of police brutality, the Assah judgment has reignited national conversation about justice, deterrence and the need for a cultural shift within the security services.

Human rights campaigners insist that while the ruling is commendable, systemic reforms remain crucial to prevent similar abuses and to ensure that justice is not only served but also seen to be served swiftly.

More than twenty years after Ojeabulu’s killing, the Supreme Court’s decision stands as a sobering reminder that every bullet fired in abuse of power diminishes public trust and that the rule of law, not force, must define the authority of those who wear the uniform.