How 8 aged persons escaped prison custody over fraud allegation in Umuahia
[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]
Old age saved eight elders of the Ipupe Community in Ubakala, Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State from being sent to prison custody by an Umuahia High Court.
The High Court judge, Mary Enwereji, had in her ruling while adjourning for further hearing, the matter for which the eight Ipupe community elders were standing trial, said that age was their only saving grace from being kept behind bars till the next adjourned date.
However, she admitted the accused persons whose ages ranged between 69 -79 years to N3 million bail each, with a surety in like sum.
The accused persons were re-arraigned before the High Court by the State Department of Public Prosecution (DPP), in Suit No. HU/50c/2021 on a five-count charge bordering on fraud.
Charges against the accused persons include that about December 2016 to July 2019, they conspired among themselves to commit fraud.
According to the charge sheet, the accused persons had, through their activities, defrauded the Community of N20, 200, 000.
After the charges were read to the accused persons, they pleaded not guilty.
State Counsel and Prosecutor, Emenike Okoro, had, in his submission, urged the court to deny the accused persons bail, considering the amount involved which was entrusted to them by their community.
However, in his submission, Counsel to the accused persons, Barr. Eze Kelechi, in a nine-paragraph counter-affidavit served on 25th August, 2021, opposed remanding the accused persons in prison custody, arguing that the offences his clients committed were bailable offences, as they remained mere allegations.
In her ruling, Justice Enwereji said the saving grace of the accused persons from being remanded till October 27, 2021, when the court would continue hearing on the matter was their age and warned that the court would not hesitate to issue Warrant of Arrest for any surety that fails to present any of the accused persons while the matter lasts.
Recall that the community had on March 29, 2021, when the matter came before Chief Magistrate, I. U. Kalu, presiding over Magistrate Court 1, through a letter addressed to the State Director of Department of Public Prosecution and signed by the Community’s Interim Caretaker Committee Chairman, Apostle Shedrack Prince Peterson, and Secretary, Deacon Charles Nwakirindu, requested that the DPP should take over the matter from Police prosecution.
