Court Sends Midwife To Prison For Murder

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An Ebute-Metta Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, has ordered the remand of a midwife for allegedly killing a pregnant woman and an unborn baby during delivery. The midwife, Mrs. Akpan Ekaete, 52, who owns maternity centre, Abasi Maternity Home, situated at 12, Shegilola Street, Agege, Lagos, was alleged to have killed 30-year old Comfort Nicholas, who had gone to the maternity centre for child birth.

 

The incident, it was gathered, occurred at about 4 pm on 4 October, 2010.

 

The midwife was arraigned on a two-count charge of unlawful killing and murder.

 

The police prosecuting Officer, Inspector Sam Omoyeni said the offences are punishable under Section. 319 (1) and 309 of the Criminal Code, Cap. C17, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003. Count one of the offence reads: “that you Akpan Ekaete, on 4 October, 2010, at about 4.00pm, at 12, Shegilola street, Agege, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully kill Comfort Nicholas, aged 30, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 319 of the criminal code Cap. C17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos state of Nigeria, 2003.

 

Count two reads: “that you Akpan Ekaete, on 4 October, 2010, at 12, Shegilola street, Agege, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial Magistrate did unlawfully kill unborn child, in that it died in a consequence of an act done during its birth, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 309 and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code Cap. C17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos state of Nigeria, 2003.”

 

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The midwife pleaded not guilty to the charges, but her plea was not taken by the court.

 

Mr. M. O. Olubi, the presiding magistrate ordered that the midwife be remanded in prison custody pending the outcome of DPP’s advice on the matter.

 

He also ordered that the case file of the matter be duplicated and sent to the Directorate Of Public Prosecution (DPP) for advice.

 

The matter has been adjourned till 29 August pending the report on DPP’s advice.

 

— Paul Sanusi

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