The Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Court sitting in Awka has ruled that it would need a doctor’s report to enable it make a final decision on whether or not to grant bail to one Wisdom Edem, aged twenty-five and also known as “Sangolo”, who is accused of raping a ten-year-old girl in Abagana, Njikoka Local Government Area.
The defendant is also accused of sexually abusing and exploiting, willfully and unlawfully inflicting physical injuries on his victim, offences contrary to section thirty-four, subsection two, section thirty-five subsection two of the Child’s Right Law of Anambra State of Nigeria, 2024, and section four subsection one of the Violence Against Persons, Prohibition and Protection, Law of Anambra State 2017.
The accused, who was at the back of a fellow inmate when he was brought to the court, could not sit well throughout the court proceedings, and was taken out of the court same way he was brought in.
Mr Edem, who also addressed the court, claimed that he sustained spinal cord and other injuries as a result of beatings he received from fellow inmates who were giving him “new man welcome”, “new man introduction” and “reading the law to new man” in custodial center, and that his health condition has continued to deteriorate since then without meaningful effort to treat him.
Counsel to the accused, E.E Okenu, had informed the court that after the accused had collapsed in court on 22nd April, he was taken to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku Awka, where he received medical attention, adding that efforts to get the report for court use has remained abortive.
Countering Wisdom and his Defense Counsel, a Senior State Counsel, C. R Akorah, informed the court that the accused, who is said to be acting comedy and a barber, had reportedly faked epilepsy the day he was arrested, but was proven wrong at the Police station where he made statement, a claim the victim’s father later confirmed.
She urged the court to continue with the matter to enable the accused take a plea.
Presiding Judge, Justice Peace Otti, after taking all submissions, adjourned the matter to Friday, 10th of May, for ruling on bail application.
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