Judiciary
THE Port Harcourt Chief Magistrate’s Court II on Monday granted bail to John Shadrack, 22, and William Isaiah, 33, who were alleged to have assaulted 70-year-old Felix Tuoyo over an alleged missing manhood.
The two defendants were being tried on a two-count charge of conspiracy and assault and were remanded in a Correctional Centre on November, 17 by the court.
The presiding Chief Magistrate, R.N. Ibanibo, said that she granted them bail before the adjourned date on the grounds of the defendants’ reported illness.
Ibanibo, however, adjourned the case to Jan. 10, 2024.
The Prosecuting Officer, lnsp. M. Ebirie, had told the court that a call was put across to the complainant on November 21 to inform him that bail was granted to the defendants on health grounds .
Mr Chike Chukwunenye, the Counsel for Tuoyo, recalled that the defendants were remanded in the correctional centre by the Chief Magistrate at the first sitting of the court on the matter.
Chukwunenye, who spoke to newsmen after the proceeding, said that the defendants were bailed without the knowledge of the complainant or himself.
According to him, we came to court this morning to see that the defendants had been released on bail before the adjourned date without informing the complainant or following the due process at the open court where the defendants were charged and remanded.
“It’s expected that a new date should be fixed on the condition of health ground and the complainant should be served notice that the court will be sitting on the said date to grant bail to the defendants, but such was not done,” he said.
Chukwunenye said they would approach the court to know the bail conditions attached to the release of the defendants.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendants were alleged to have assaulted Tuoyo and his wife, Susan, accusing the septuagenarian of “collecting Shadrack’s manhood” at the SPAR Shopping Mall in Port Harcourt.
The prosecuting officer had on November 17 told the court that the defendants and others at large conspired and committed felony on October 24.
He said that the offence is punishable under section 516(A) of the Criminal Code, cap 37, Vol.ll, Law of Rivers of Nigeria.
“The defendants and others at large, on the same date and place, unlawfully assaulted Felix and his wife, by giving them fist blows on their body, which caused bodily harm to him and fracture on his wife’s left leg.
“This is an offence punishable under section 355 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Federation as applicable in Rivers. (NAN)
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November 28, 2023 @ 6:56 GMT|
Tags: Chike Chukwunenye R.N. Ibanibo
