Deeper Life School Saga: Chief Magistrate Absence Stalls Suspects’ Arraignment In A/Ibom

…as boy’s mother accuses 74 year old doctor of taking her
son’s blood samples

Absence of the Chief Magistrate in court has stalled the
arraignment of suspects in the alleged torture and sexual
molestation of an 11-year-old pupil, Don-Davies Archibong of Deeper
Life High School, Uyo Akwa Ibom state.

The police had on Wednesday taken the suspects, five staff and
two students of the DLHS to the Magistrate Court along Ikot Ekpene
road for prosecution.

Also dragged to the court was a 74 year old retired medical
doctor, Effiong Udimidue, who is said to be a member of the Deeper
Life High School Management Committee, Uyo.

The ‘abused’ boy’s mother, Mrs. Deborah Archibong had accused
Dr. Udimidue of sneaking into the medical facility where her son
was to take his blood samples without official authorization.

The 74-year-old medical doctor was subsequently arrested and
detained by the police but released Wednesday morning.

Speaking with the counsel to the defendant (Deeper Life High
School), Fidelis Igwe said “the Police brought about seven persons
here. Five of them are staff and two are students and they are both
minors.

“They (suspects) were not arraigned because we were informed
that the Chief magistrate was not around and she will be around
tomorrow (Thursday) being the only one that could handle the
matter.

“Igwe, who is with the LFG Attorney Chambers, accused the police
of keeping his clients in the dark as to the result of their
investigation only for them to be taken to court for
arraignment.

“The Police have not told us what these people were to be
charged for. We asked them to tell us the result of their
investigation into the matter but they have not told us anything.
But they just called them out and asked them (suspects) to join
them to court. They have neither briefed us the lawyers that handle
the case nor the management.”

Fielding question on how the suspects were arrested, the
school’s lawyer said: “we have been going for introduction and
interrogation, but when we got there Tuesday after interviewing
them, the police said they were going to detain them, we asked them
why but told us nothing.”

He said police have not shown them petition the claimant wrote
against his clients.

On his part, the claimant’s lawyer, Barr. David Okokon said the
reason the court did not seat was an administrative issue,
explaining that the police and the court do not have the same
working modalities.

Okokon accused the medical doctor who was indicted in the matter
of engaging in “palpable and crude medical practice,” threatening
that he was going to petition Nigeria Medical Association.

…as boy’s mother accuses 74 year old doctor of taking her
son’s blood samples

Absence of the Chief Magistrate in court has stalled the
arraignment of suspects in the alleged torture and sexual
molestation of an 11-year-old pupil, Don-Davies Archibong of Deeper
Life High School, Uyo Akwa Ibom state.

The police had on Wednesday taken the suspects, five staff and
two students of the DLHS to the Magistrate Court along Ikot Ekpene
road for prosecution.

Also dragged to the court was a 74 year old retired medical
doctor, Effiong Udimidue, who is said to be a member of the Deeper
Life High School Management Committee, Uyo.

The ‘abused’ boy’s mother, Mrs. Deborah Archibong had accused
Dr. Udimidue of sneaking into the medical facility where her son
was to take his blood samples without official authorization.

The 74-year-old medical doctor was subsequently arrested and
detained by the police but released Wednesday morning.

Speaking with the counsel to the defendant (Deeper Life High
School), Fidelis Igwe said “the Police brought about seven persons
here. Five of them are staff and two are students and they are both
minors.

“They (suspects) were not arraigned because we were informed
that the Chief magistrate was not around and she will be around
tomorrow (Thursday) being the only one that could handle the
matter.

“Igwe, who is with the LFG Attorney Chambers, accused the police
of keeping his clients in the dark as to the result of their
investigation only for them to be taken to court for
arraignment.

“The Police have not told us what these people were to be
charged for. We asked them to tell us the result of their
investigation into the matter but they have not told us anything.
But they just called them out and asked them (suspects) to join
them to court. They have neither briefed us the lawyers that handle
the case nor the management.”

Fielding question on how the suspects were arrested, the
school’s lawyer said: “we have been going for introduction and
interrogation, but when we got there Tuesday after interviewing
them, the police said they were going to detain them, we asked them
why but told us nothing.”

He said police have not shown them petition the claimant wrote
against his clients.

On his part, the claimant’s lawyer, Barr. David Okokon said the
reason the court did not seat was an administrative issue,
explaining that the police and the court do not have the same
working modalities.

Okokon accused the medical doctor who was indicted in the matter
of engaging in “palpable and crude medical practice,” threatening
that he was going to petition Nigeria Medical Association.