A Coroner’s Court sitting in Benue State has held that Sesugh Asar, 17, died from gunshot wounds sustained from shots fired by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at Gberindyer, Kanshio, Makurdi on May 22, 2026.
Earlier this year, the Chief Judge of Benue State granted approval for an inquest into the death of Sesugh Asar and a Coroner was appointed for the inquest.
According to the Coroner’s findings, the totality of evidence before it pointed to the “irresistible conclusion” that the EFCC operatives shot Sesugh Asar during the incident.
The coroner noted that the prosecution witness had told the Coroner that he saw Sesugh running towards a house where he had gone to buy soya milk, with blood all over his body, saying he had been shot. He also told the court that he saw two other young men, whom he identified as EFCC operatives, running after Sesugh and insisting on taking him away.
The court also considered the evidence of a defence witness, who told the Coroner that the EFCC operatives opened fire on the boys in self-defence and that, after the incident, they discovered Sesugh lying on the ground and took him away.
On the defence that the killing did not amount to lawful deprivation of life, the court held that Section 33(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) guarantees every person the right to life and provides that no person shall be deprived intentionally of his life except in execution of a court sentence following conviction.
The court said although counsel had argued that the killing was legal, no order of court authorising the EFCC officers to take Sesugh’s life was presented.
“As beautiful as the learned counsel may present his case, he failed to present the order of court that gave the officer the right to take the life of Sesugh Asar,” the court held.
It therefore concluded that, “in the eyes of the law, the killing of Sesugh Asar is illegal.”
The court subsequently held that Sesugh died on May 22, 2026, at about 2pm, from gunshot wounds sustained from shots fired by EFCC officers at Gberindyer.
Mother thanks lawyers, supporters
Speaking with journalists after the judgment, Sesugh’s mother, Apemeshirigh Jennifer Apaa, 35, thanked God and the legal team of Barrister Tsembelee Sorkaa and James Atsor for pursuing justice for her son.
She also appreciated Philip Udo, Terna Apav and Terese Apaa for their moral support.
Apaa said she had initially felt helpless following the death of her son, believing that nothing could be done to secure justice.
“I thought I had no one, and my son was killed and nothing could be done. I thank God particularly that my lawyers have pursued and secured justice for my son,” she said.
Counsel: Justice cannot be bought
Counsel to the family, Barrister Tsembelee Sorkaa, said he was satisfied with the judgment, adding that he had been confident from the outset that justice would prevail.
“I was not for one day having doubt that it would not turn this way. I made inquiries before setting on this. Now that we’ve gotten justice, the next thing is how to do the needful in terms of enforcement of fundamental human rights,” he said.
Sorkaa said the outcome showed that justice could not be bought, while commending the Benue judiciary for upholding the law.
“You can never kill a man who stands for justice. People should not think that justice can be bought. Proud of the Benue Judiciary who stood for justice,” he said.
