An Owerri High Court on Tuesday denied a nurse, Ngozi Ebuzoaju, bail in a child trafficking case.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to the suspect, Lawrence Ukadike, asked the presiding justice, Innocent Njaka to grant his client bail while the matters go on.
But the prosecution counsel, E. A Okpara, who represented the state, opposed the bail application on the ground that he had yet to file his counter affidavit, owing to the time he was served by the defendant’s counsel.
Okpara explained to the court that while the bail application was filed on December 3, he was served in court on Tuesday’s morning.
He, therefore, asked the court for an extension of time to enable him file his counter affidavit in respect to the application.
In his ruling, the judge declined the bail application and therefore adjourned till December 14, for hearing.
The defendant’s counsel had informed the court that while other suspects were charged for child stealing, the police arraigned his client for child trafficking.
The police had arrested one Mrs. Chinyere Ohanyere popularly known as madam Chichi for allegedly trafficking two children.
Ebuzoaju was later arrested by the police for allegedly being part of the illicit transaction.
Ohanyere and Ebuzoaju were arraigned separately by the police in court.
While Ohanyere had been granted bail, Ebuzoaju is still awaiting trial at the Owerri Correctional Centre.
