Court threatens prosecution’s foreclosure in trial of man accused of killing wife
An FCT High Court in Maitama has threatened to foreclose the prosecution’s case in the ongoing trial of one Matthew Ankyoor accused of beating his pregnant wife to death. The trial judge, Justice Peter Affen, noted that the attitude of the police prosecutor in the case, Donatus Abah, has been below par, adding that the […]
FCT High Court in Maitama
An FCT High Court in Maitama has threatened to foreclose the prosecution’s case in the ongoing trial of one Matthew Ankyoor accused of beating his pregnant wife to death.
The trial judge, Justice Peter Affen, noted that the attitude of the police prosecutor in the case, Donatus Abah, has been below par, adding that the prosecutor had been absent from trial on previous occasions without justifiable reason.
When the matter was called, yesterday, the prosecutor was again absent without sending any message to the court on his absence, while the defendant was brought to court by prison officials.
Justice Affen thereafter adjourned the matter to October 18 and directed another police prosecutor who was in court for another matter, Out Urom, to communicate the decision of the court to foreclose the prosecution’s case at the next adjourned date if Abah refused to put up appearance.
Daily Trust reports that the prosecutor had during arraignment told the court that the defendant committed the offence on June 5, at Lugbe village, Abuja. He told the court that the defendant beat up his wife, Doosur Ankyoor, who was eight months pregnant to death.
He said the defendant beat her severely leading to her death and that of the unborn child. He said the offence contravened sections 221, 235 and 236 of the Penal Code. Section 235 deals with preventing a child from being born, and Section 236 causing the death of an unborn child.
Ankyoor had pleaded not guilty to the charge. His counsel, Adama, prayed the court to grant bail to the defendant to enable him take care of the three children left behind by his late wife. However, his bail application was refused.