Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigerian Bar Association has issued a stinging condemnation of the extrajudicial killing of a handcuffed suspect by a police officer in Delta State, describing the act as an "arbitrary, unprovoked, and misguided show of power" that undermines the rule of law and violates the constitutional presumption of innocence. In a statement issued on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN) declared that no law enforcement officer, regardless of rank, has the authority to assume the roles of prosecutor, judge, and executioner under any circumstance.
The condemnation followed the circulation of a viral video showing 28-year-old Mene Ogidi, a musician and aspiring artist, seated on the ground with his hands tied behind his back, pleading for his life in Pidgin English: "Officer I beg, I go tell you everything. Na my friend deceive me. E dey Sapele. I go carry you go the place." Despite his pleas and his obvious helplessness, an officer in civilian clothes cocked his rifle, shot the suspect first in the leg, and then, after reloading, fired a fatal shot to the head at close range. The chilling footage sparked nationwide outrage and renewed calls for accountability within the Nigeria Police Force.
In his statement, Osigwe said the NBA was "disturbed by the viral video showing the extrajudicial killing of a suspect by police officers in Delta State." He stressed that the act not only violated the constitutional principle that every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court but also tarnished the reputation of the Nigeria Police Force. "This is an arbitrary, unprovoked, and misguided show of power by a law enforcement agent. Not only did the act clearly show that the policeman took the law into his hands but portrayed the Nigerian Police Force in a bad light," the statement read.
He recalled that the NBA had on various occasions called for comprehensive police reforms, particularly in the areas of accountability and use of force, and warned that if such unlawful actions by security agencies continue unchecked, the fundamental rights of people may not amount to much in a climate of impunity.
The Delta State Police Command confirmed the shooting, identifying the deceased as 28-year-old Mene Ogidi. Police spokesperson Bright Edafe said the officer involved, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) identified as Nuhu Usman, had been arrested and transferred to the Force Headquarters in Abuja for disciplinary proceedings. According to the police, Ogidi had been apprehended by members of the public at a transport park in Effurun while attempting to send a parcel suspected to contain a Beretta pistol with four rounds of ammunition. Police operatives were deployed to take the suspect into custody, but Usman, in "clear violation of Force Order 237 and the Standard Operating Procedure of the Nigeria Police Force, discharged his firearm, leading to the death of the suspect."
Despite the police's initial disclosure, the NBA insisted that accountability must extend beyond a single individual. Noting that the viral video showed other police personnel at the scene, Osigwe demanded that the investigation, arrest, and prosecution process must cover any other officer who may have counselled, aided, or abetted the extrajudicial killing, "as they will be jointly liable for the heinous act." The NBA president warned that any attempt to shield those responsible would further damage public trust in law enforcement and called for a transparent and speedy trial. He directed the NBA Human Rights Committees in Warri, Effurun, and Udu to closely monitor the case and ensure that justice is served.
In a major development on the same evening, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, announced the conclusion of expedited disciplinary proceedings. According to a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, all officers connected to the incident were immediately withdrawn from the Delta State Command and transferred to Force Headquarters, where the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) and an Orderly Room Tribunal conducted an expedited review. "Findings established unequivocally that the principal officer, ASP Nuhu Usman, acted in gross violation of Force Order 237 and other extant regulations governing the use of firearms. His actions were unlawful, unprofessional, and a clear betrayal of the oath to protect life and uphold the law," the police statement read.
The FDC recommended the immediate dismissal of Usman and five other officers found culpable. The Inspector-General approved the recommendation and forwarded it to the Police Service Commission for final ratification. Once the administrative process is completed, the affected officers will be handed over to the appropriate judicial authorities for prosecution for their roles in the extrajudicial shooting.
At a press conference in Abuja, IGP Disu described the April 26 incident as a "criminal and unprofessional" act that has no place in the Nigeria Police Force. "Let me be clear; this action is criminal, it is unprofessional, and has no place in the Nigeria Police Force. No uniform is a license to kill," Disu declared. He said the FDC and tribunal had recommended the dismissal of Usman, two superintendents, and three inspectors involved. "No level of criminal suspicion against a citizen justifies extra-judicial killing. Our duty is to protect life, not to extinguish it," he added. The IGP extended his deepest condolences to the family of Mene Ogidi, acknowledging their pain and loss, and assured them that justice would be swift, transparent, and absolute. "I give you my word; justice will not only be done, it will be seen to be done," he pledged.
The shooting has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights groups and civil society. Amnesty International Nigeria demanded the urgent identification and prosecution of all officers responsible, stating that "personnel of the Nigeria Police Force in Effurun Area Command, Delta State have openly killed an unarmed suspect." The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) also called for the immediate prosecution of the officer involved. The NBA, in its concluding remarks, reiterated its call for comprehensive police reforms, particularly in the areas of accountability and the use of force, warning that the bad elements in the force must be shown the way out to prevent further damage to its image. The association expressed solidarity with the victim's family and pledged to continue advocating for justice.
The case now moves to the Police Service Commission for ratification of the dismissal, after which the officers will be arraigned before a criminal court on charges of murder or culpable homicide. For the family of Mene Ogidi, the 28-year-old whose pleas for mercy were answered with a bullet, the days ahead will be a painful wait for a judicial process that many Nigerians hope will finally send a clear message that a police uniform is not a license to kill.
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