Mrs. Ujunwa Hope Ngene, a mother of four children, aged between 2-12 years was detained in Police custody for over two weeks for offence allegedly committed by her husband Osita Hope Ngene without bail.
The suspect was arrested on the 19th July 2019 by the Police and charged to High Court Six in Calabar, Cross River State on Thursday in a suit no HC/255/2019.
Speaking with DAILY POST shortly after the case was mentioned, the Counsel to the applicant, Barr Barr Festus Eze, lamented the continuous detention of his client in Police custody for over two weeks.
Barr Eze said “Today, we were in court to pursue the fundamental human right of Mrs Ngene over unlawful and illegal detention by the authority of the Nigeria Police Cross River State Command in Calabar on the allegation of stealing.
“Ordinarily, the offence is bailable under our criminal jurisprudent by virtue of section 113 subsections 11 and particularly 111 of the criminal procedure of Cross River State CAP C17 2004.
“The applicant, Mrs Ngene was arrested precisely on the 19th July 2019 and ever since, she has been in detention facility under the incarceration of the state CIID Calabar.
“We had made stringent efforts to meet the Commissioner of Police, that the applicant be allow to go on Police administrative bail because the offence is a bailable one or in alternative charge to court so that her trial could commence but the Commissioner of Police has refused, the Deputy Commissioner of Police has refused to charge her to court,” he stated.
Consequently, Barr. Eze said he brought the matter to the High Court with a view to pursuing his client’s fundamental human right, “We were in court and surprisingly, they brought her to court today believing that the High Court of Justice is the last hope of man.
“Sadly, the matter had been adjourned to the 12 August 2019 for the respondents to be served hearing notices and the applicant (Suspect) was again returned to Police custody.
He said in the wisdom of the Court, the presiding Judge, Justice Franca Isoni adjourned the case to August 12th 2019 to enable respondents served with court documents and prove of service effected.
“We encourage other human right fighters all over the world to rise up to occasion that warrant the injustices and illegal detention of innocent citizen of this country particularly over offence that is bailable,” Barr Eze pleaded.
When our correspondent contacted the Police’s lawyer in Court to comment on the matter, he declined comment, saying that he was not competent to speak on the matter.
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