Counsel wants minor tried in juvenile court
NAN-H-48
Minor
Abuja, Oct. 26, 2017 (NAN) Counsel to a minor, Mr K. T. Orgah, on Thursday urged an FCT High Court, Kubwa, to allow his 18-year-old client be tried in a juvenile court.
Orgah made the oral application before the arraignment of the defendant.
He objected to the arraignment before the court based on the provisions of Sections 149, 204 and 277 of the Child’s Rights Act.
The sections stipulate that anyone below the age of 18 could not be tried in a regular court.
In his ruling, the Judge, Justice Bello Kawu, urged the defence counsel to make his application formal by putting it in writing.
He also ordered that the suspect be returned to the Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS) where he had been on detention.
Kawu, however, adjourned the case until Dec. 4 for ruling.
The prosecuting counsel, Mr F. C. Ugbobi, did not object to the application made by the defence counsel, until after the judge’s ruling.
The court did not entertain the objection as the case was already adjourned before he raised an objection. (NAN)
DVK/MNA/OU
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Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Obike Ukoh
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