A Magistrate’s Court in Owerri, on Tuesday, ordered the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Imo State, Cyprian Akaolisa, to appear before it on January 20, 2022, in a case of child trafficking.
A nurse, Ngozi Ebuzoaju, had been arraigned by the police for allegedly aiding a 55-year-old woman, Mrs Chinyere Ohanyere, aka Madam Chichi, in child trafficking.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, the presiding magistrate, Chika Ezerioha, said the order for the attorney general to appear before her became necessary to enable him to give advice on whether he (Akaolisa) wanted the case to be heard at the High Court or continued at the magistrate’s court.
The prosecuting counsel, Timothy Eke, had told the court that he wrote a letter to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions to make available the original case file.
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He informed the court that the letter to the DPP was forwarded on November 2, 2021.
The magistrate thereafter adjourned the case till January 20, 2022, when the attorney-general and commissioner for justice would appear before the court.
The National President of Ohanaeze Youth Council, Igboayaka Igboayaka, had accused the AG of meddling in the case and attempting to file for non-prosecution.
Akaolisa had appeared before Magistrate Court 2 on November 17, where the prime suspect, Ohanyere, was being prosecuted and asked that the case be withdrawn.
Igboayaka, who was in court on Tuesday, told journalists that he was happy that the court was interested in dispensing justice in the case.
He also disclosed that the attorney general had assured the Ohanaeze Youth Council that justice would be served in the matter.
The youth leader said child trafficking is an abominable act in Igbo culture, hence the stance of the council that justice should prevail.
