There is shock and outrage as the police in Enugu State it arraigned a
7-year-old boy, Chibuike Oramalu before a magistrate court for murder.
Just about three weeks back we reported that Chibuike, a primary two pupil of a nursery and primary school was detained for nearly one month
for accidentally firing a gun, which killed a 12-year-old boy, Oluebube
Boniface. However, following public outcry, the police said he was in
“protective custody.”
The commissioner of police in Enugu State, Emmanuel Ojukwu had told
journalists that the minor would not be charged because the law forbade
that.
However, the matter took a dramatic twist on Friday as Chibuike was docked for murder.
A civil society group, Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network
(CRRAN), which has been at the fore-front of struggle for Chibuike’s
freedom expressed shock over the latest development.
It has, therefore, in a petition, asked the Police Service Commission to bring to book all those involved in the saga.
In a statement made available to DAILY POST by the group’s President,
Mr. Olu Omotayo, he described the arraignment of the minor as “most
shocking.”
His petition 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.
Olutayo maintained:
“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.”
Chibuike accidentally fired the shot after discovering the gun in
Oforma’s room while making the bed, as he was instructed by Chukwunanu,
Oforma’s son.