Tina Amanda
The child abuse case involving a grandmother, Martina Patrick, who unlawfully tied up her grandchildren after rubbing pepper on their bare bodies has suffered setbacks in a Magistrate court in Choba, Obio-Akpor local government area of Rivers state.
The case suffered setbacks as the principal witness was absent in court.
The Prosecution Counsel told the court that the principal witness could not come to court as he had a case in another court.
Counsel for FIDA, Hilda Desmond-Ihekaire, urged the court not to strike out the suit on technical ground, stressing that she will apply for issue of witness summon if the witness in question did not come to court at the next adjourned date.
The presiding Magistrate, Chief Magistrate Isreal Agbesor, after listening to Counsels’ argument gave an order that the Prosecution and FIDA should produce the witness at the next adjourned date.
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Magistrate Agbesor refused bail to Martina Patrick and Veronica Patrick and adjourned to 30th January for consideration of bail.
Counsel to FIDA, Hilda Desmond-Ihekaire, told our correspondent, Tina Amanda, that the Defendants were not granted bail due to the nature and gravity of their offence, adding that the court has ordered for accelerated hearing in the matter.
Recall that Martina Patrick and her daughter Veronica Patrick were arrested and arraigned in court for unlawfully robbing ground pepper all over the body of her two grandchildren, tying their hands behind their backs with a rope which caused the children grievous injuries and imprisoning them.
The Defendants face a two-count charge for committing an offence punishable under section 364 sub-2 and section 335 of the criminal code, Cap 37, VOL 2, laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.
