The unending quest to
bring to an end all limitations and hindrances to the actualization of access
to justice by the indigent, has once again been given flesh as ABSU law clinic
extends a hand of support to yet another indigent member of our society.
Mr Ajali Chukwu a truck
pusher aged 23, on the 25th day of December, 2009, at ekoba village
along Enugu-Umuahia expressway on his way to his home town was arrested and
accused of being part of a gang of armed robbers that attacked a commercial
vehicle plying on the said route.
On the 14th day
of July 2010, Ajali Chukwu was arraigned before the chief magistrate court in
the umuahia magisterial district where he was granted bail by His worship M.C
Ahukannah (Mrs). The bail conditions include the sum of N500,000 with one
surety in the like sum; surety to deposit two passport photographs with the
court, swear an affidavit of means and his place of residence to be verified by
the place in writing. Due to failure to meet the bail conditions, his matter
was transferred to the office of the Director for Public Prosecution (DPP) for
his opinion before he is arraigned before a High court.
ABSU Law clinic during the
just concluded 2011/2012 prisons’ visit came in contact with the accused who
has been abandoned for 3 years in prison without going to court. Due to the
peculiar nature of the case, the clinic decided to step into the situation
seeing that he was indigent and doesn’t have a lawyer. After series of
investigation, we discovered that he was granted bail but due to his failure to
meet the bail terms, his file was transferred to the office of the DPP. Upon a
follow up visit to the office of the DPP, we discovered that file was missing.
The clinic through the
efforts of Azubuike Seth and Salome Akabuike (500 level students) engaged the
services of Barr. Ifeanyi Olunkwa who swung into action immediately by making
an application for bail before a vacation court in umuahia since the judiciary
is on vacation. The motion for bailed will be moved on Monday 13th
August 10, 2012 and we promise to keep you updated throughout the stages of trial.
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