Lawyers Demand Open Trial Of Delta Officer Over Suspect’s Killing
Avocats Sans Frontières France, otherwise known as Lawyers Without Borders, has called on the Federal Government and the Nigeria Police Force to ensure absolute transparency and the public prosecution of an officer, ASP Nuhu Usman, over the alleged extrajudicial killing of a 28-year-old suspect, Mene Ogidi.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, signed by the Country Director, Angela Uwandu-Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, the human rights organisation condemned the summary execution of Ogidi, which reportedly took place on April 26, 2026, in Effurun, Delta State.
The group noted that reports and a viral video of the incident indicated that the victim was unlawfully killed by the officer, who is attached to the Effurun Area Command.
According to ASF France, the killing represents a “total collapse of due process” and a blatant breach of the fundamental Right to Life guaranteed by Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“The summary execution of Mene Ogidi represents a total collapse of due process and a blatant breach of the fundamental Right to Life guaranteed by Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It further violates the principle of Presumption of Innocence under Section 36, which states unequivocally that every citizen is innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
“The killing of a suspect in this manner is a direct violation of the rules of engagement and is contrary to Nigeria Police Force Order 237, an internal regulation which strictly limits the use of firearms to extreme situations where there is an imminent threat of death or serious injury,” the statement read.
“…This act violates regional and international legal frameworks, including Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), both of which strictly prohibit the arbitrary deprivation of life by state actors.”
The organisation pointed out that the video circulating on social media showed the victim with his hands and legs tied, posing no imminent threat to anyone at the time he was shot.
While acknowledging the arrest of the officer involved, the Country Director of ASF France insisted that the arrest was merely a first step toward the accountability required to satisfy the demands of justice.
The group demanded that the authorities move beyond internal disciplinary measures to a formal prosecution in a court of law to ensure the culprit faces the full weight of the law.
They also called for a swift and impartial investigation into the full circumstances surrounding the shooting and urged the government to offer a clear path to justice for the grieving family of the deceased.
“Ensure Transparency by conducting a swift and impartial investigation into the full circumstances surrounding the shooting. Move beyond internal disciplinary measures to a formal prosecution in a court of law to ensure the culprit faces the full weight of the law. Offer support and a clear path to justice for the grieving family of Mene Ogidi,” the statement noted.
ASF France warned that extrajudicial killings erode public trust and destabilise the foundation of a democratic society, adding that it would continue to monitor the legal proceedings closely to ensure the case does not end in impunity.
