The Delta State Police Command has stated that the Directorate of Public Prosecution exonerated Apostle Michael Akpo, Inspector Ignatius Aghazie, and ASP Mesoro Victor after reviewing the case file on the alleged murder of Charles Okpako and Ejiro Ekeipovwe at Ogbolokposo, Uvwie Local Government Area of the State.
According to a press release signed by Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Edafe Bright said the Command was aware of a misleading narrative posted on Pararan Mock News about the death of two young men: Charles Okpako and Ejiro Ekeipovwe, allegedly murdered on July 12, 2023 by yet-to-be-identified security operatives at Ogbolokposu community, Uvwie LGA of Delta State.
“It is germane to expound that the Delta State Police Command does not want to enter into any form of social media debate with the said Pararan but for avoidance of doubt and for members of the public not to be misled by his false narratives, the Command wishes to state as follows;
“On July 14, 2022, at about 2 pm, one Rhoda Ese Okpako and one Erhiga Omavovwe Andrew reported a case of murder against one Apostle Michael Akpor and his police escort, alleging that the policemen on escort duty with the Apostle shot at a tricycle killing the duo of Charles Okpako and Ejiro Ekeipovwe.
“The case was transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for thorough investigation. During the investigation, the following findings were unveiled:
“The tricycle rider stated that he was shot by policemen on escort duty but did not see their faces.
“The eye witness Festus Ebereri stated that he was there and could identify the vehicle the apostle used on the same date if seen, but could not identify the said vehicle during the identification parade of the Apostle’s vehicle when placed alongside four other similar vehicles while the police officer whom he alleged to have pulled the trigger was clearly on another assignment on the day of the incident, so he was neither in Ogbolokoso nor with the Apostle at the time of the incidence
“The Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage confirmed that Apostle Michael Akpor came out of his vehicle to the church premises at about 1200hrs and entered the vehicle to leave the church premises at about 2100hrs.
“Upon completion of the investigation, a duplicate case file was submitted to the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) for relevant advice. It is pertinent to note that the DPP, having done a painstaking review of the casefile submitted, categorically states that there is no “prima facie” case of the offense of murder against Apostle Michael Akpo, Insp Ignatius Aghazie, and ASP Mesoro Victor,” Edafe said.
In the meantime, Delta State Police Commissioner, CP. Wale Abass, has expressed sympathies to the victims’ families.
He assured that the command was fully committed to conducting a thorough investigation into the death and further promised to unveil the identities of the suspected uniform security officers involved in the heinous act.
He advised the public against engaging in cyberstalking, “as it is a clear violation of the Cyber Crime Act, of 2015.”
He therefore warned any individual or group of individuals, particularly media personalities, bloggers, and social media influencers, who are constantly stalking fellow citizens on the internet to stop or face arrest and prosecution.
The Police Commissioner urged the public to remain calm; calling on anyone who may possess relevant information that can assist the investigative process to send in information anonymously through the command’s Social Media handles or call the command’s dedicated lines (09155570007; 09155570008) for immediate response.
