The Police authority on Enugu arraigned 7-year-old Chibuike Oramalu before a magistrate court for murder.
Oramalu had earlier been reportedly detained for almost a month for accidentally firing a gun, which killed a 12-year-old boy, Oluebube Boniface. The police after immense pressure from the public said that he was in protective custody.
The commissioner of police in Enugu State, Emmanuel Ojukwu had then said that Oramalu would not be prosecuted as the law forbade such an act, but to everyone’s surprise, he was docked yesterday for the crime of murder before a magistrate court.
Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), a civil society group which had taken an interest in the case prepared a petition, asking the Police Service Commission to bring to book all those involved in the saga.
According to Daily Post, a statement by the group’s President, Mr. Olu Omotayo read in part, “We started the massive campaign for the release of Chibuike Oramalu on Saturday the 9th day of July 2016. The 6-year-old was taken into custody at the State Criminal and Investigation Department (State CID), Police Headquarters, Enugu, on the 30th May 2016 and was finally released on the 13th July 2016.
“During the unlawful 6 weeks sojourn of Chibuike Oramalu, in Police cell at the State CID, Enugu, the Police Commissioner had maintained that Chibuike was in ‘protective custody.’
“The case took another dimension this morning when the Police called Mrs. Oramalu that she should bring Chibuike to the Police Headquarters. Mrs. Oramalu went there with Chibuiike and Police proceeded to Magistrates’ Court with Chibuike and Edwin Oforma, the owner of the said gun who had earlier reported to the Police.
“At the Magistrates’ Court, Police filed a Charge of Conspiracy and murder against Chibuike and Edwin Oforma. Oforma was also charged with unlawful possession of a Zebra English made double barrel gun.
“Chibuikes’ mother informed us as they were being taken court and we promptly made appearance in court on behalf of the 6 year old boy Chibuike Oramalu.
“The Learned Magistrates’ His Worship Hillary Asogwa, after listening to our submission agreed that the 6-year-old boy is incapable of committing crime and as such he could not be remanded in prison custody.”
“The learned Magistrate, therefore, released Chibuike Oramalu on bond to the mother but went ahead to remand Mr. Edwin Oforma in prison for murder and unlawful possession of double barrel gun. We attached herewith the said Charge Sheet.”
He added “That the arraignment of the 6-year-old Chibuike today for murder by the Police is a mockery and abuse of administration of justice in this country.
“The question is why are the officers handling this matter bent on sending the 6-year-old to prison either by whatever crook means. The Police Service Commission has to live up to his responsibility and save the Nigeria Police and the country in general from this type of embarrassment.”