Police Inspector Dismissed, Remanded For ‘Killing’ Nigerian Singer

The Enugu State Police Command has announced the dismissal of Ozonwanji Joseph, a police inspector, for allegedly killing Okezie Mba, an Enugu-based musician.

Osun Defender had earlier reported that Mba, better known as Igbo-Jah, was reportedly shot on Friday evening  after a friendly visit to the anti-cultism tactical squad’s headquarters in Enugu state.

The musician was leaving the squad’s headquarters when the police inspector reportedly fired at the him unprovoked.

Igbo-Jah was rushed to Eastern Medical Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His body has been deposited in the mortuary for autopsy.

The death of the musician has elicited outrage with fans and residents of the state demanding that justice be served.

Giving an update in a statement on Monday, Daniel Ndukwe, Enugu police spokesperson, said the orderly room trial of Joseph has been concluded.

Ndukwe said the police inspector was found culpable of the murder and dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force.

He added that the officer was recommended for prosecution.

“Accordingly, the assistant inspector-general of police, Zone 13 (covering Anambra and Enugu States’ Commands), approved the orderly trial recommendations to dismiss and prosecute the Inspector in court. Hence, he has been dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force and was today, October 28, 2024, arraigned at the Enugu East Magistrate Court for the offence of murder,” the statement reads.

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On Monday, Joseph was charged with murder at the magistrate court sitting in Enugu.

The charge read, “That you Ozonwanji Joseph ‘m’ on 25th day of October 2024 at about 2010hrs at anti-Cultism Police Squad, Goshen Estate Enugu in the Enugu North Magisterial District, unlawfully killed one Okezie Chikezie Nwamba ‘m’ by firing him with an AK47 Riffle, which caused his death and thereby committed an offence, punishable under Section 274(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2024.”

Ngozi Edeani, the magistrate, ordered that the case file be transferred to the attorney-general of the state.

The magistrate ordered that the police inspector be remanded at the Enugu correctional centre.

The trial was adjourned to November 12, 2024.