The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death sentence passed on Olayemi Oludamilola, a Police officer, by the Kogi State High Court for killing the late Solomon Omopariola.

The appellant (Oludamilola), who failed in his bid to upturn the decision of the lower court at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, approached the apex court to set aside that judgment.

Delivering judgment, Justice James Ogebe, said: “I see no cause whatsoever to disturb the findings of fact made by the two lower courts.

“The appellant who was employed as a police officer to protect the lives of fellow citizens and maintain peace in the society abused his authority and snuffed the life out of an innocent citizen.

“He was rightly convicted by the two lower courts.

“ I see no merit in this appeal and I hereby dismiss the appeal and affirm the appellant’s conviction and sentence to death as passed by the two lower courts,” Ogebe said.

The police officer had in 2007 shot with a revolver pistol at the deceased, who went to a police station to symphatise with an arrested person.

Mr Samuel Olowu, an eyewitness, gave evidence of how the appellant gripped the deceased in attempt to take him into the Efo-Amuro police station when he heard the sound of the gun shot.

Olowu, a retired Inspector of Police, explained that he saw the deceased in a pool of blood.

He said the appellant refused to look for a vehicle to convey the deceased to the hospital when approached.

The appellant, who testified on his own behalf, said that the shot from the pistol was an accidental discharge when the deceased and others were beating him.

The trial court in Kogi, presided over by Justice J. Ottah, however, convicted the police officer.

Our correspondent reports that the convict’s appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal when it confirmed the judgment of the trial court.