I Got Spinal Injury On My First Time In Prison – 25-yr-old Inmate

A 25-yr-old prison inmate, Wisdom Edem, has said that the beatings he received from fellow inmates while being welcomed as a “new man” have caused him spinal and other injuries.

Mr Edem, who addressed a Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Court sitting in Awka, said he also received “new man introduction” and “reading the law to new man” from fellow inmates at the custodial center.

He said that his health condition has continued to deteriorate after the beatings, without meaningful effort to treat him.

He was brought before the court over allegation of raping a 10yr-old girl in Abagana, Njikoka Local Government Area, where he is popularly known as “Sangolo”.

The defendant is also accused of sexually abusing and exploiting, willfully and unlawfully inflicting physical injuries on his victim, offences contrary to sections 34(2), 35(2) of the Child’s Right Law of Anambra State of Nigeria 2024, and section 4(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition and Protection) Law of Anambra State 2017.

Mr Edem, who was at the back of a fellow inmate when he was brought to the court, could not sit well through out the court proceedings, and was taken out of the court same way he was brought in.

Counsel to the accused, E.E Okenu, had informed the court that after the accused had collapsed in court on 22nd April, he was taken to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku Awka, where he received medical attention; report of which she said efforts to get for court use has remained abortive.

Countering Wisdom and his Defense Counsel, a Senior State Counsel, C. R Akorah, informed the court that the accused, who is said to be acting comedy and a barber, had reportedly faked epilepsy the day he was arrested, but was proven wrong at the Police station where he made statement, a claim the victim’s father later confirmed.

She urged the court to continue with the matter to enable the accused take a plea.

Presiding Judge, Honourable Justice Peace Otti, after taking note of all submissions, ruled that the court would need a doctor’s report to enable it make a final decision on whether or not to grant the defendant bail, and later adjourned the matter to Friday, 10th of May, for ruling on bail application.