ATANI Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ogbaru Council Area of
Anambra State, on Wednesday, was disrupted, as suspected members of
homosexual family almost stopped court proceedings, following the
docking of two of their members for alleged same sex offence.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that over 50 members of the group from various parts of the state stormed the court premises as early as 9.00 a.m. in solidarity with their two members arrested by the state police command on offence related to same sex violation.
The group, while chanting anti-police and court songs, said they came to express their fundamental human rights and to show solidarity with their members, who were standing trial on some count charge relating to same sex.
They, however, demanded unconditional release of the two, who were charged with two-count charge and said they would continue to fight for their rights, despite the challenges they face in the National Assembly.
However, the two suspects standing trial were later remanded in prison on the grounds that the magistrates’ court had no jurisdiction to hear the matter.
In Nteje Chief Magistrates’ Court, Oyi Council Area of Anambra State, there was confusion when one of the suspects standing trial for alleged kidnapping and other criminal offences, told our reporter that he was a messenger to the former Minister for Information, Professor Dora Akunyili.
The suspect, Okwudili Udechukwu, who was arrested by the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), in connection with kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state and arraigned in suit No MCN/ 112c/2013, said he was innocent, adding that he was a messenger to Professor Akunyili.
In the charge No MCN/112C/2013, the suspect was charged with kidnapping and demanding N30 million as ransom from the relatives of his victim before he was apprehended. The presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs Emejulu, remanded the suspect in prison.
Also, in the same, Nteje Chief Magistrates’ Court, in suit No MCN/113C/2013, a community leader, Chief Francis Beluchukwu Nwoye, was also arraigned by the police for allegedly committing crimes in Nkwelle Ezunanka community in Oyi Council Area of the state.
Counsel for the defendant, Mr C.J Asiegbu, prayed the court to discontinue with hearing the matter, on the grounds that there was a substituting high court order, restraining the police and other security agents from arresting his client.
Mr Asiegbu told the court that continued hearing of the matter would amount to fragrant abuse of high court order and would be tantamount to disobedience to court order, especially by a lower court.
Reacting to the motion by the defense counsel, the prosecution counsel, Ben Onwuemekai, urged the court to go ahead and hear the matter on the grounds that there was no court order served the police or its subordinate.
He further said that the court shall not continue to be used as cover to perpetuate crimes of all sorts, adding that the suspect had been hiding under the court order to commit all sorts of crime, while telling the court that the police discovered cache or arms in his house during their search.
In her ruling, Mrs Emejulu, said the court shall not go ahead to hear the matter on the grounds that there was a subsisting high court order, the police counsel should go and finish with the matter at the high court before coming for prosecution of the defendant.
TRIBUNE
Nigerian Tribune gathered that over 50 members of the group from various parts of the state stormed the court premises as early as 9.00 a.m. in solidarity with their two members arrested by the state police command on offence related to same sex violation.
The group, while chanting anti-police and court songs, said they came to express their fundamental human rights and to show solidarity with their members, who were standing trial on some count charge relating to same sex.
They, however, demanded unconditional release of the two, who were charged with two-count charge and said they would continue to fight for their rights, despite the challenges they face in the National Assembly.
However, the two suspects standing trial were later remanded in prison on the grounds that the magistrates’ court had no jurisdiction to hear the matter.
In Nteje Chief Magistrates’ Court, Oyi Council Area of Anambra State, there was confusion when one of the suspects standing trial for alleged kidnapping and other criminal offences, told our reporter that he was a messenger to the former Minister for Information, Professor Dora Akunyili.
The suspect, Okwudili Udechukwu, who was arrested by the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), in connection with kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state and arraigned in suit No MCN/ 112c/2013, said he was innocent, adding that he was a messenger to Professor Akunyili.
In the charge No MCN/112C/2013, the suspect was charged with kidnapping and demanding N30 million as ransom from the relatives of his victim before he was apprehended. The presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs Emejulu, remanded the suspect in prison.
Also, in the same, Nteje Chief Magistrates’ Court, in suit No MCN/113C/2013, a community leader, Chief Francis Beluchukwu Nwoye, was also arraigned by the police for allegedly committing crimes in Nkwelle Ezunanka community in Oyi Council Area of the state.
Counsel for the defendant, Mr C.J Asiegbu, prayed the court to discontinue with hearing the matter, on the grounds that there was a substituting high court order, restraining the police and other security agents from arresting his client.
Mr Asiegbu told the court that continued hearing of the matter would amount to fragrant abuse of high court order and would be tantamount to disobedience to court order, especially by a lower court.
Reacting to the motion by the defense counsel, the prosecution counsel, Ben Onwuemekai, urged the court to go ahead and hear the matter on the grounds that there was no court order served the police or its subordinate.
He further said that the court shall not continue to be used as cover to perpetuate crimes of all sorts, adding that the suspect had been hiding under the court order to commit all sorts of crime, while telling the court that the police discovered cache or arms in his house during their search.
In her ruling, Mrs Emejulu, said the court shall not go ahead to hear the matter on the grounds that there was a subsisting high court order, the police counsel should go and finish with the matter at the high court before coming for prosecution of the defendant.
TRIBUNE
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