Enugu Baby Merchant Granted Bail
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Enugu Baby Merchant Granted Bail
July 29, 2008 15:31, 332 views
By Jude Orji\Enugu
Justice Abdul Kafaraki of the Federal High Court, Enugu, this morning, granted bail to Dr. Kenneth Akunne, the Medical Director of Uzoma Hospital, Enugu.
The doctor had been accused of trafficking in children, and unlawful detention of 20 teenage pregnant girls in his hospital on 9 June, by officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and later charged to court by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons, NAPTIP, Enugu zonal office.
The presiding judge ruled that the offence is bailable in law and an accused person is believed to be innocent until the contrary is proved.
“The application for bail is hereby granted by the court in the sum of N500,000 for the accused person. Also, two sureties in like sum and two medical doctors in the employment of Enugu State government with 20 years post-graduate qualification,” the judge said.
Dr. Akunne, who is being detained at the Enugu Prisons, was not in court when the bail was granted.
Speaking to P.M.News, prosecuting counsel, Mrs. Wokembe Nneoma, said, “we are not really satisfied with the bail because we would have been satisfied with him in prison for the prosecution”.
Earlier, the prosecuting counsel had argued against the bail based on the seriousness of the offence and the alleged criminal record of the accused. He noted that the accused had once been charged with rape at the Enugu Magistrate Court and he repeated the offence while on bail.
The case was adjourned till 24 September, for hearing. Speaking with P.M.News, Prof. Wilson Onuigbo, a Professor of Pathology, Abia State University, described the bail conditions as stringent. He said he was in court in solidarity with his friend, Akunne.
On why he wants to stand bail for an alleged notorious baby merchant, Onuigbo argued that what Akunne told him was different from the allegations levelled against him.
Comments (4)
July 29, 2008 15:31, 332 views
By Jude Orji\Enugu
Justice Abdul Kafaraki of the Federal High Court, Enugu, this morning, granted bail to Dr. Kenneth Akunne, the Medical Director of Uzoma Hospital, Enugu.
The doctor had been accused of trafficking in children, and unlawful detention of 20 teenage pregnant girls in his hospital on 9 June, by officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and later charged to court by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons, NAPTIP, Enugu zonal office.
The presiding judge ruled that the offence is bailable in law and an accused person is believed to be innocent until the contrary is proved.
“The application for bail is hereby granted by the court in the sum of N500,000 for the accused person. Also, two sureties in like sum and two medical doctors in the employment of Enugu State government with 20 years post-graduate qualification,” the judge said.
Dr. Akunne, who is being detained at the Enugu Prisons, was not in court when the bail was granted.
Speaking to P.M.News, prosecuting counsel, Mrs. Wokembe Nneoma, said, “we are not really satisfied with the bail because we would have been satisfied with him in prison for the prosecution”.
Earlier, the prosecuting counsel had argued against the bail based on the seriousness of the offence and the alleged criminal record of the accused. He noted that the accused had once been charged with rape at the Enugu Magistrate Court and he repeated the offence while on bail.
The case was adjourned till 24 September, for hearing. Speaking with P.M.News, Prof. Wilson Onuigbo, a Professor of Pathology, Abia State University, described the bail conditions as stringent. He said he was in court in solidarity with his friend, Akunne.
On why he wants to stand bail for an alleged notorious baby merchant, Onuigbo argued that what Akunne told him was different from the allegations levelled against him.
Comments (4)
2008 Jul 29