(By Emmanuel Uzor – ABAKALIKI)
There was drama in an Abakaliki magistrate court yesterday when a two-month-old baby docked alongside his parents and a relation distracted court proceedings with its cries.
The baby was in the company of its parents, who are standing trial for the alleged murder of one Sylvia Nwachi from Afikpo. The accused were later remanded in prison as the magistrate court said it lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter.
On the dock alongside its parents, the toddler cried profusely, apparently in need of breast feeding, but its cries were apparently ignored even as its mother pleaded for bail to allow her suckle the child, a plea that was all ignored by the court.
The baby’s mother, who was in tears while in the dock, pleaded that she be granted bail for the sake of her baby. But her plea was ignored by the magistrate.
The accused persons, who are natives of Ezi Nwachi Ndibe in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, allegedly committed the crime on the 26th of October.
They were charged on a two-count charge of murder punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 33 Vol. 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.
Trial magistrate Nnachi Olughu ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prisons custody while the court processes should be forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP for appropriate trial.
He adjourned the matter till 20th January, 2017.