Pregnant woman detained for eating dead chicken discharged

The Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Ishaq Bello, has discharged a woman detained for allegedly receiving and eating a dead chicken taken from a poultry. Deborah Joseph, who is two months pregnant, said she was offered the dead chicken by staff of the poultry who decided against destroying the carcass. She said […]

The Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Ishaq Bello, has discharged a woman detained for allegedly receiving and eating a dead chicken taken from a poultry.

Deborah Joseph, who is two months pregnant, said she was offered the dead chicken by staff of the poultry who decided against destroying the carcass.

She said she collected the chicken, cooked and ate it as her husband had travelled to their village, but was subsequently arrested, charged to court and detained in Suleja prisons.

The CJ ordered her release yesterday during his visit to the prisons. He also ordered the release of four others. 

One of the released detainees, 17-year-old Maureen Ovie, was arrested, charged to court and detained in prison while still 16 years old. She told the CJ that her father accused her of bringing thieves to burgle his house and that property worth N3.9 million was stolen in the process.

The CJ noted that she was underage  when she was charged and according to the penal code ought not to be in prison.

In releasing her, he ordered that the Abuja branch of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, (FIDA) should ensure her safe return to her parents.

Also released is a final year student of Geology and Mining at the Nasarawa State University, Fatima Salami. In narrating her story, she said her former boyfriend accused her of pouring acid on his wife thereby inflicting severe bodily injuries on the woman. She denied the allegation.

While directing that she be taken back to her parents to continue her studies, the CJ ordered the prosecutor to meet him so as to review the case and see if there is substance in it or not.

One of the other two awaiting trial inmates released, Chinyere Ekanem detained for issuing a dud cheque was released because the maximum sentence for the offence is two years and she had been incarcerated for two years and eight months already.