By Chinyere Omeire
An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Thursday extended a remand order given against a husband and wife, Chidi and Nkiru Ubochiajonjo, charged with pouring acid on 26-year-old Ogochukwu Nwosu.
Chidi, 39, and Nkiru, 40, were first arraigned on March 15, on a four-count charge of conspiracy, attempted murder, threat to kill and grievous bodily harm.
The accused, who pleaded not guilty, were remanded in custody for 30 days, pending the legal advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
When the case came up on Thursday, Magistrate J. O. Adepoju extended the remand order for another 30 days.
The magistrate said that the report on the case file forwarded to the court from the office of the DPP contained a different case number from what was on the charge.
She directed the prosecutor to ask the DPP for another report bearing the correct charge number.
Mr C. C. Echemazu, Counsel to the accused, thereafter, moved an application for his clients to be released on bail.
He stated, among other things, that the accused had been in detention since their arrest, for a period of six months.
The Prosecutor, ACP. Ochogwu Ogbeh, however, opposed the bail application and argued, among other things, that “the victim is still critically ill, battling for her life in hospital.”
According to the charge marked O/18/2017, the duo, on Oct. 6, 2016, at Ilasamaja Bus Stop, Ilasamaja, Lagos, attempted to murder Nwosu by bathing her with substances suspected to be acid, thereby causing her grievous bodily harm.
The charge also stated that on Oct. 7, 2016, one of the accused, Nkiru, threatened to kill the complainant, Nwosu, through a Short Message Service (SMS).
It stated that the offences contravened Sections 230, 232, 245 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The case has been adjourned until July 14 for ruling on the application and DPP’s advice.
