37-year-old man in court for exhuming corpse

A 37-year-old man, Uju Chukwu, on Tuesday appeared before an Umuahia Magistrates’ Court charged with exhuming the corpse of one Apostle Uju Nwaoha.

Chukwu, from Umuiku Oza Aza in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia was arraigned on a four-count charge.

The accused was on Feb. 8, arraigned on a two-count charge on the same matter.

The same court, had granted the accused bail for N50,000 and one surety in like sum who should reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

But on Tuesday, the Prosecution Counsel, Mr Henry Madu, approached the Magistrates’ Court with a four-count amended charge against the accused.

In the charge, Chukwu was said to have on Dec. 25, 2011 at Umuiku Oza Aza in Ukwa West interfered with the buried human remains of the late Nwaoha by damaging the tomb.

He was accused of exhuming the remains of the deceased, thereby committed an offence punishable under the laws of Abia State. Chukwu was also accused of unlawfully assaulting, on the same date, one Uju Chikezie, and thereby committed an offence punishable under the criminal code.

When the amended charges were read to the accused, Chukwu, whose counsel was absent in court, pleaded not guilty.

Mrs Elizabeth Kalu, the Magistrate, upheld the initial bail granted the accused and adjourned the matter Aug. 8.