By NDUBUISI NWOGHA, ABAKALIKI
There was a mild drama in Ebonyi State High Court on Wednesday, January 12 ,2022 when the State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Spokesperson, Mr Chika Nwoba Chika, collapsed in the Court premises, in Abakaliki the State capital, before the commencement of his trial on alleged hate speech.
Mr Nwoba, who was arrested on Sunday on order of the State government for allegedly violating the State laws on hate speech on social media, collapsed on arrival of the court premises when he was coming out from police van that conveyed him to the court.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that officers of the Police in the State command were said to had taken him to police clinic to resuscitate him but however, were reportedly ordered by the Commissioner, CP Aliyu Garba, to arraign him in Court, dead or alive.
Speaking with the counsel to the defendant, Barr. Luke Nkwegu, claimed that his client was abducted by suspected criminals on Sunday, before the attention of the State Police command was brought prompting his rescue from where Mr Nwoba was detained and treated badly.
Barr Nkwegu who faulted the way his client is poorly handled by the men of Nigeria Police Ebonyi State Command and requested that Mr Nwoba be taken to the hospital for proper medical treatment since “It is only the living that stands trial and not the dead” he explained.
When asked if he’s satisfied on the subsequent adjourned date, Barr Nkwegu said the adjournment is at the description of the court and wouldn’t like to interfere since the court has not taken jurisdiction of his client’s case.
On his part, the prosecutor,Mathias Eze Esq, said he reliably gathered that the defendant was healthy before being brought to court but however surprised seen the defendant on ill situation.
However, the magistrate, Blessing Chukwu, has ordered Mr Nwoba to be taken to the hospital for treatment and adjourned the hearing for Friday, 14th of January.
The Special Assistant to the governor on Media and publicity, Francis Nwaze, said the State government is bent on fighting hate speech in the State and would wait on fairness of the judiciary in the State in ensuring that justice is served for defaulters.