Nigerian Doctor Accused of Human Trafficking Denied Bail
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Nigerian Doctor Accused of Human Trafficking Denied Bail
July 16, 2008
The High Court in Nigeria on Tuesday refused to grant bail to a doctor accused of operating a maternity home where under aged girls breed babies for sale. Dr. Kenneth Akunne is charged in the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu in southeast Nigeria for operating an illegal maternity home where 20 pregnant under-aged girls breed babies for sale.
He was arrested over a month ago by the Nigerian Civil Defense Corps, which handed him over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP).
Defense counsel Phillip Obiora urged the court to allow the suspect bail because of his poor health and tendered a letter from Nigeria Prisons Service signed by Dr. Obiekwe Ifeanyi, which said the suspect should get medical attention outside the prison environment.
However, Justice Abdul Kafarati refused the accused bail following the argument by the prosecuting counsel, Ramiah Ikhanaede, that the application for bail was not properly addressed and the letter from the Prisons was not authentic since it was not endorsed by the Prisons Service and had no reference number.
Ikhanaede argued that the offense tried carried life imprisonment without the option of a fine and if the accused is granted bail he would continue to pose a threat to society as he would continue in criminal activities.
He said the accused was charged for rape in 2004 and granted bail but he committed another sexual related offense in 2006 while on bail.
NAPTIP also said the accused should not be granted bail in view of his past record of human rights abuses and related criminal activities while on bail.
July 16, 2008
The High Court in Nigeria on Tuesday refused to grant bail to a doctor accused of operating a maternity home where under aged girls breed babies for sale. Dr. Kenneth Akunne is charged in the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu in southeast Nigeria for operating an illegal maternity home where 20 pregnant under-aged girls breed babies for sale.
He was arrested over a month ago by the Nigerian Civil Defense Corps, which handed him over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP).
Defense counsel Phillip Obiora urged the court to allow the suspect bail because of his poor health and tendered a letter from Nigeria Prisons Service signed by Dr. Obiekwe Ifeanyi, which said the suspect should get medical attention outside the prison environment.
However, Justice Abdul Kafarati refused the accused bail following the argument by the prosecuting counsel, Ramiah Ikhanaede, that the application for bail was not properly addressed and the letter from the Prisons was not authentic since it was not endorsed by the Prisons Service and had no reference number.
Ikhanaede argued that the offense tried carried life imprisonment without the option of a fine and if the accused is granted bail he would continue to pose a threat to society as he would continue in criminal activities.
He said the accused was charged for rape in 2004 and granted bail but he committed another sexual related offense in 2006 while on bail.
NAPTIP also said the accused should not be granted bail in view of his past record of human rights abuses and related criminal activities while on bail.
2008 Jul 16