A Laboratory Assistant, Chukwunenye Nweke, has urged an Awka Magistrate’s Court to compel the AIG of Police, Zone 9, to release police report, letters and other documents that would enable him to defend a suit against him.
Nweke, 31, made the plea on Wednesday in the court where he is standing trial in a charge of defamation and threat to life instituted against him by the police.
The suspect is facing a two count charge of defamation and threat to life on one Dr Anuli Aguiyi in suit No. MAW/97C/2019.
According to the charge sheet, Nweke in May 2018 in Awka Magisterial District did cause the publication that Aguiyi obtained judgment against him by fraud or inducement of the judge, which he knew to be false with intent cause damage to her reputation.
It further said that the suspect about the same time and jurisdiction threatened to kill or harm Aguiyi over the judgment against him in a case no. A/MISC.305/2017.
Aguiyi, who was led in evidence by the Prosecution Counsel, U.S. Ekpo, said the publication on Facebook had caused harm to her at her workplace, church and town union and had denied her some privileges and rights over the allegations.
The complainanty, who also alleged that she had been receiving threats on phone, however, could not provide evidence of call logs from service providers.
She said Nweke accused her of bribing the police and judges to obtain the judgement which was later tendered to the court and admitted in evidence.
S.I Obinwa, counsel to Nweke, told the court that his client came into the court with mouth gagged because his prosecutors did not want him to defend himself.
Obinwa said the documents that were needed by the defendant to make his case were still with the police and urged the court to make an order for the police to release them to Nweke.
In his ruling, the Magistrate, Mike Anyadiegwu, said Nweke only needed to apply and pay the necessary fee to get the Certified True Copy of the documents from Police, adding that no court order was needed.
Anyadiegwu adjourned the matter until Aug. 2 for continuation of Evidence in Chief of PW1.
(NAN)
