Husband accused of shielding wife from trial

The police in Abuja Thursday arraigned a middle-aged man before an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court for allegedly shielding his wife from facing trial in a case of criminal breach of trust and forgery committed on October 2010, after standing as her surety in court.

Andrew Uhunwanngho of Life Camp, Abuja, was charged with screening an offendea Section 167 of the Penal Code.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Danjuma Itobi, stated in court that on September 30, 2010, the accused stood as surety for his wife, Mariam Andrew and signed a bond of N28.5 million with the promise to produce her to the police on October 4, 2010, which he never did, until his arrest.

When the charge was read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty and his counsel, Mohammed Shehu made an oral application for his bail, which was opposed by the prosecutor on grounds that the offences committed by the accused person’s wife, whom he stood surety for, were not ordinarily bailable.

Chief Magistrate Azubuike Okeagu said the application made by the accused person’s counsel has merit and granted the accused bail in the sum of N300,000 with two reliable sureties, of whom one must be a civil servant of not below grade level 12.

The case was adjourned to April 18 for hearing.