Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Today, Monday, 1 June 2026, dismissed Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Nuhu Usman and four other officers will be arraigned before a High Court in Asaba, Delta State, on charges of murder for the extrajudicial killing of 28‑year‑old Mene Ogidi, an upcoming musician, whose death was captured in a viral video that sparked nationwide outrage. The incident occurred on 26 April 2026, along the Warri–Sapele Expressway in Effurun, Delta State, when Usman, who was at the time attached to the Effurun Area Command, shot the restrained suspect at close range while his hands were tied behind his back. The shocking video, which circulated widely on social media, showed Ogidi kneeling and pleading for his life, offering to cooperate with officers, before Usman allegedly cocked his rifle and fired twice, the second shot delivered at point‑blank range.
The case has become a litmus test for police accountability in Nigeria. The Inspector‑General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, immediately ordered the transfer of all officers involved from the Delta State Command to the Force Headquarters in Abuja to ensure a transparent disciplinary process. Following a Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) hearing, Usman and three other officers were found guilty of gross misconduct and violation of Force Order 237, the regulation governing police use of firearms, and were dismissed from service. The Police Service Commission subsequently ratified the dismissals, and the case file was forwarded to the Office of the Attorney‑General of the Federation for prosecution. Four officers are now facing murder charges: ASP Nuhu Usman, along with three other members of his team; a fifth suspect, the driver who transported the parcel from Yenagoa to Delta, remains at large.
The circumstances that led to the fatal shooting began when Ogidi was arrested by members of a transport union at the Benin Motor Park in Effurun for attempting to waybill a parcel that was later found to contain a fabricated Beretta pistol loaded with four rounds of ammunition. Police operatives attached to the Effurun Area Command were called to the scene. According to the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, while efforts were being made to take the suspect into lawful custody, the team leader, ASP Nuhu Usman, “discharged his firearm in clear violation of extant regulations, resulting in the death of the suspect”. Ogidi had already been apprehended, tied up, and was no longer a threat when the shooting occurred, leading to widespread condemnation and calls for justice.
The police have defended their handling of the case, with Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, stating unequivocally that Usman’s actions were “not pardonable” and that the officer would face murder charges. “I’m very sure that officer will have his days in court and will face murder charges,” Edafe said during a television interview. The IGP, in a press briefing, described the shooting as “criminal, unprofessional, and a direct betrayal of the officer’s oath,” adding that “no uniform confers the right to take life outside the provisions of the law”. He further assured the public that “justice will not only be done but will be seen to be done”.
In a separate but related development, the Sun Newspaper reported that Usman had faced fresh allegations of extortion and assault following his arrest. An X user (@djParis) accused the dismissed officer of assaulting her and extorting N50,000 from her in 2023. She alleged that Usman stopped the motorcycle she was riding, struck her with his gun, made degrading comments about her body, and threatened to harm her if she refused to pay. These allegations have added to the growing public scrutiny of Usman’s conduct and the broader issue of police brutality in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has also weighed in, calling for a transparent trial and warning against any attempt to move the case outside Delta State. The NBA insisted that the trial must be conducted in the jurisdiction where the crime occurred, to ensure that the community most affected by the killing can witness justice. Meanwhile, the remains of Mene Ogidi have been deposited at a mortuary, and an autopsy is pending, with the findings expected to be used as key evidence in the prosecution.
As Usman and his co‑accused enter the dock in Asaba today, the nation’s eyes are fixed on the Delta State judiciary. For the family of Mene Ogidi, who have waited more than a month for this day, the arraignment marks the beginning of a long and emotionally draining legal battle. For the Nigeria Police Force, it is an opportunity to demonstrate that no officer is above the law. And for the countless Nigerians who have watched the video of a handcuffed young man being executed in the dust, the trial represents a test of whether the system can finally deliver accountability where it has so often failed.
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